Thursday, March 26, 2009
Food Fun
I have two bits of fun food news to share.
Sunset's One-Block Diet blog has been nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award. My connection with this is tenuous at best; sweetheart Angela helps with some of the recipe testing (keen eyes can find her in some photos), and traveling companion Alan always seems often to be in photos partaking of the results. Still, I feel a sense of reflected pride. Congrats.
Also, Barbara and Kevin Brown, singing friends in SFBACC and proprietors of R&B Cellars, recently showed up on TV's Eye on the Bay along with their office manager Daphne Dahmen to prepare a lamb dish (made with R&B Swingsville Zinfandel) for Easter. Fun viewing, and Barbara says there's more on tap.
Check 'em out!
Sunset's One-Block Diet blog has been nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award. My connection with this is tenuous at best; sweetheart Angela helps with some of the recipe testing (keen eyes can find her in some photos), and traveling companion Alan always seems often to be in photos partaking of the results. Still, I feel a sense of reflected pride. Congrats.
Also, Barbara and Kevin Brown, singing friends in SFBACC and proprietors of R&B Cellars, recently showed up on TV's Eye on the Bay along with their office manager Daphne Dahmen to prepare a lamb dish (made with R&B Swingsville Zinfandel) for Easter. Fun viewing, and Barbara says there's more on tap.
Check 'em out!
Labels: blogs, food, friends, garden, media, TV, wine
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Michelle Gamble-Risley on ABC News
Michelle Gamble-Risley, who as editor of California Computer News gave me an opportunity early in my freelancing career, was on ABC News recently, sharing career- and life-changing ideas from her new book, Second Bloom. Congratulations, Michelle!
Labels: books, friends, jobs, marketing, money, news, people, TV, video, writing
Monday, December 22, 2008
2008 Christmas Letter
Holiday greetings. This is my experiment in a Green Christmas--some of you received reused cards, and I'm publishing my Christmas missive on the Internet rather than sending out another piece of paper to toss. (You can click on any picture for a larger view.) We’ll see how it works.
I’m still self-employed as a writer (business continues to be good, I’m glad to report), singing in the San Francisco Bay Area Chamber Choir and playing baritone sax in the Castro Valley Community Band. This fall I joined a small new vocal ensemble (11 people) that specializes in Renaissance motets. I do a little writing for fun (and garnered a bit of local attention for doing so) and stay physically active.
I rang in the New Year on a beach in Mexico. I visited Las Bocas (don’t look for it on a map--you won’t find it) with my band friends Kathy and Dave for a week; I spent the time helping with projects around their house, beachcombing, reading, and discovering how much of my high school Spanish I could recall. (Quite a bit, it turns out.) It was beautiful but surprisingly cold. I drove to Las Bocas with K&D, but for my return trip I took a bus to Phoenix (much more of an adventure than anticipated, because of a dumb mistake on our part) and a plane to the Bay Area. On the way home I visited in Phoenix with Carol, a choir friend and retired counselor from Hayward High.
New Year's Beach Bonfire with Dave. (Kathy's behind the camera.)
In April I traveled to China with a Hayward Chamber of Commerce junket with my former Sunset colleague Alan. We went to Beijing, Shanghai, and a few smaller cities (as in fewer than a zillion people). We saw some of the Olympic structures before they were completed, took in the legendary smog, ate some shockingly bad food, and were encouraged to shop, shop, shop. Our best experiences came when we managed to slip away from the group and explore on our own.
On The Not-So-Great Wall with Alan.
Also in April, I spent my 47th birthday in Los Angeles visiting with yoga friends Paul W. and Adelaide, lifelong friend Paul R., former Sunset colleague Matt and his wife Becky, my college pal Tom, and online correspondent (and maybe distant cousin) Joanna. I took in a Dodgers game (thanks for the tickets, 'Teo), ate some fine meals, saw some sights, and generally basked in the kind attention of dear people.
We ate how many Dodger Dogs?
Also, note that I wore blue and left my Giants cap at home.
For the better part of the year--literally and figuratively--I’ve dated a charming woman named Angela. She’s a former colleague, a fellow widowed person, and a joy to be with. She and I took an early-Summer trip to the American South--specifically, Nashville, Memphis, Muscle Shoals (AL), and the Natchez Trace. The journey brimmed with spontaneous discoveries, surprising beauty, delicious food, and friendly folks.
On the porch at Graceland with Angela.
Later in the summer we Sandsmarks had our annual houseboat trip on Lake Shasta. In spite of some challenges--low water levels, high gas prices, and Nicole getting sick--the trip was a chance to hang out with the family (all the nieces and nephews came), sleep, and read. (Those are the choices if, like me, you don’t play Guitar Hero.) Paul and Mike helped me make BBQ pizza for dinner one night.
Houseboating is hard work.
I marked the anniversary of Jane’s death with a solo road trip to San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. I visited some of our favorite places and attended the Labor Day Yoga Retreat at the White Lotus Foundation. The folks at WLF were instrumental in Jane’s well-being--and mine--during the nine years she was ill, and WLF was the right place to be for this important occasion.
The White Lotus Swimming Hole.
The year wrapped up with Mike, Carol, Nicole and Jenni visiting in early December. (Michelle’s in college in Hawaii, poor dear.) We celebrated Mike’s and Linda’s birthdays with lunch for 16 here at Outlook Court. I took the opportunity to give them both some of their own childhood toys out of the attic. There’s a lot more cleaning to do in this old house, but fortunately there’s no rush to do it.
December Birthdays.
I had one other bit of adventure at the end of the year: Delta (the hound) collapsed on a routine morning walk; a veterinary exam showed she had a large tumor on her spleen that had ruptured. Her spleen was removed (don’t ask how much that cost) and while she was under she had a cyst removed from a hind leg. She’s recovering well, but the spleen tumor proved to be malignant; the prognosis isn’t great, but for now she’s comfortable and happy.
The Spleenless Wonder Dog.
And given all the turmoil in the world—particularly in the economy—comfortable and happy isn’t bad. I wish you all a peaceful, prosperous 2009.
I’m still self-employed as a writer (business continues to be good, I’m glad to report), singing in the San Francisco Bay Area Chamber Choir and playing baritone sax in the Castro Valley Community Band. This fall I joined a small new vocal ensemble (11 people) that specializes in Renaissance motets. I do a little writing for fun (and garnered a bit of local attention for doing so) and stay physically active.
I rang in the New Year on a beach in Mexico. I visited Las Bocas (don’t look for it on a map--you won’t find it) with my band friends Kathy and Dave for a week; I spent the time helping with projects around their house, beachcombing, reading, and discovering how much of my high school Spanish I could recall. (Quite a bit, it turns out.) It was beautiful but surprisingly cold. I drove to Las Bocas with K&D, but for my return trip I took a bus to Phoenix (much more of an adventure than anticipated, because of a dumb mistake on our part) and a plane to the Bay Area. On the way home I visited in Phoenix with Carol, a choir friend and retired counselor from Hayward High.
In April I traveled to China with a Hayward Chamber of Commerce junket with my former Sunset colleague Alan. We went to Beijing, Shanghai, and a few smaller cities (as in fewer than a zillion people). We saw some of the Olympic structures before they were completed, took in the legendary smog, ate some shockingly bad food, and were encouraged to shop, shop, shop. Our best experiences came when we managed to slip away from the group and explore on our own.
Also in April, I spent my 47th birthday in Los Angeles visiting with yoga friends Paul W. and Adelaide, lifelong friend Paul R., former Sunset colleague Matt and his wife Becky, my college pal Tom, and online correspondent (and maybe distant cousin) Joanna. I took in a Dodgers game (thanks for the tickets, 'Teo), ate some fine meals, saw some sights, and generally basked in the kind attention of dear people.
Also, note that I wore blue and left my Giants cap at home.
For the better part of the year--literally and figuratively--I’ve dated a charming woman named Angela. She’s a former colleague, a fellow widowed person, and a joy to be with. She and I took an early-Summer trip to the American South--specifically, Nashville, Memphis, Muscle Shoals (AL), and the Natchez Trace. The journey brimmed with spontaneous discoveries, surprising beauty, delicious food, and friendly folks.
Later in the summer we Sandsmarks had our annual houseboat trip on Lake Shasta. In spite of some challenges--low water levels, high gas prices, and Nicole getting sick--the trip was a chance to hang out with the family (all the nieces and nephews came), sleep, and read. (Those are the choices if, like me, you don’t play Guitar Hero.) Paul and Mike helped me make BBQ pizza for dinner one night.
I marked the anniversary of Jane’s death with a solo road trip to San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. I visited some of our favorite places and attended the Labor Day Yoga Retreat at the White Lotus Foundation. The folks at WLF were instrumental in Jane’s well-being--and mine--during the nine years she was ill, and WLF was the right place to be for this important occasion.
The White Lotus Swimming Hole.
The year wrapped up with Mike, Carol, Nicole and Jenni visiting in early December. (Michelle’s in college in Hawaii, poor dear.) We celebrated Mike’s and Linda’s birthdays with lunch for 16 here at Outlook Court. I took the opportunity to give them both some of their own childhood toys out of the attic. There’s a lot more cleaning to do in this old house, but fortunately there’s no rush to do it.
I had one other bit of adventure at the end of the year: Delta (the hound) collapsed on a routine morning walk; a veterinary exam showed she had a large tumor on her spleen that had ruptured. Her spleen was removed (don’t ask how much that cost) and while she was under she had a cyst removed from a hind leg. She’s recovering well, but the spleen tumor proved to be malignant; the prognosis isn’t great, but for now she’s comfortable and happy.
And given all the turmoil in the world—particularly in the economy—comfortable and happy isn’t bad. I wish you all a peaceful, prosperous 2009.
Labels: friends, Jane, personal history
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
THEMIS on NOVA
Tonight's NOVA scienceNOW includes a segment on the THEMIS project -- the study of the aurora borealis, on which my friend John McDonald works.
Check here for an earlier post on THEMIS with more links.
Check here for an earlier post on THEMIS with more links.
Labels: friends, science, TV, weather
Monday, June 16, 2008
Seyed Alavi in SF Chronicle
The San Francisco Chronicle has an article today by Charles Burress about one of Seyed Alavi's public art installations -- specifically, the traffic-signal boxes in Emeryville. The photos are worth checking out, too. As commenters on the article have pointed out, the work isn't new, but nevertheless I'm pleased to see it get some attention.
I'm very happy to own one of Alavi's "Aquamano" prints, called "Loon Song."
I'm very happy to own one of Alavi's "Aquamano" prints, called "Loon Song."
Friday, May 30, 2008
Midlife Crisis Underway
Delta checks out the new "furniture" in the family room, then goes looking for earplugs.
The drumset is on long-term loan from Dave E. Thanks, buddy!
The drumset is on long-term loan from Dave E. Thanks, buddy!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
The Book Shop in Daily Review
Those of us who love The Book Shop in Hayward were happy to see the article about Hank Maschal in Saturday's Daily Review. In it, Staff Writer Kristofer Noceda got a lot of the details exactly right. For example: "If friends were made solely on first impressions, Maschal wouldn't have many. Yet he does, several of them longtime, loyal customers. That customer loyalty is what helps keep the store open." Count me among them. I also liked Noceda's calling Renée Rettig "the sweet to [Hank's] sour." An excellent article about a gem of a place.
Labels: books, friends, fun, Hayward, writing
Friday, February 15, 2008
Called on the Comics Carpet
Ha! Joanna Sandsmark has called me out in the current installment of the hilarious blog Comic Books Revisited.
(I realize I'm not using the expression "call out" quite accurately, but somehow it feels like it fits anyway.)
(I realize I'm not using the expression "call out" quite accurately, but somehow it feels like it fits anyway.)
Labels: blogs, friends, language
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Cary Nasatir on "Taming the Volume Beast in the Percussion Section"
My pal Cary Nasatir has a new article on the Vic Firth website entitled Taming the Volume Beast in the Percussion Section. He talks about drumstick selection, drum stands and hardware, the angle of the drum itself, and tuning up drums. He also addresses player confidence and motivation. Good reading.
But it's funny: Cary doesn't explain how to get drummers to stop talking between pieces. That's the real volume beast! (Just kidding, buddy ...)
But it's funny: Cary doesn't explain how to get drummers to stop talking between pieces. That's the real volume beast! (Just kidding, buddy ...)
Labels: friends, music, writing
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Geir Jordahl's "Searching for True North" exhibit reviewed on KQED.org
The gallery show of Searching for True North at ModernBook has received a very positive review from Ben Marks on KQED.org. A snippet:
The full review is here.
What's refreshing about Jordahl's work is that, in an age when we've become numb to the guilty pleasures of Photoshop, there's nothing inherently fake about these pictures. Yes, the artist's bag of tricks includes infrared film and panoramic cameras, but what we see is precisely what those tools and materials deliver, no more, no less.
The full review is here.
Labels: art, friends, Norway, poetry
Monday, January 28, 2008
Little Lyon in Dubai?
Surreal story in today's New York Times about an entrepreneur in the United Arab Emirates who's so smitten with the French city of Lyon that he wants to build a small version of Lyon in Dubai. Among the points of interest:
I, too, love Lyon. It's the home of our dear friend Hélène and the setting of many wonderful memories. It's a superb walking town -- the Castro Valley Boulevardier would appreciate it. Its festival of lights is breathtaking -- do a Google image search for "Lyon 'Fete des Lumieres'" to see some examples. Lyon has the finest farmer's market in France, which says a lot. (Interpol headquarters is there, too -- what could be cooler than that?)
But loving Lyon is one thing; trying to re-create it under a dome in the Middle East is something else entirely.
The Paul Bocuse Institute is hoping to set up a branch to train young chefs and restaurant and hotel managers. The Museum of Textiles is poised to open a silk museum and lend select treasures from its vast silk collection. Lyon’s soccer team has signed up to operate a center to train a Dubai team. Research is under way to cool outdoor spaces naturally to make strolling bearable during dust storms and 105-degree heat. [Emphasis mine.]
I, too, love Lyon. It's the home of our dear friend Hélène and the setting of many wonderful memories. It's a superb walking town -- the Castro Valley Boulevardier would appreciate it. Its festival of lights is breathtaking -- do a Google image search for "Lyon 'Fete des Lumieres'" to see some examples. Lyon has the finest farmer's market in France, which says a lot. (Interpol headquarters is there, too -- what could be cooler than that?)
But loving Lyon is one thing; trying to re-create it under a dome in the Middle East is something else entirely.
Labels: food, France, friends, science, weather
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Norway Recognizes Geir Jordahl's "Searching for True North"
Norway.org, the official United States web presence of Norway, has a wonderful article about Geir Jordahl's new photography book, Searching For True North.
A gallery opening for Searching for True North is slated for Friday, February 1, 2008 at ModernBook Gallery in Palo Alto. These images -- many shot with a Widelux panoramic camera and many made using infrared film -- have been described by Margaretta K. Mitchell as "restless dynamism." See you there!
A gallery opening for Searching for True North is slated for Friday, February 1, 2008 at ModernBook Gallery in Palo Alto. These images -- many shot with a Widelux panoramic camera and many made using infrared film -- have been described by Margaretta K. Mitchell as "restless dynamism." See you there!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Honoring Eric Kupers
I was thrilled to read on CSUEB View that our friend Eric Kupers earned a $10,000 Princess Grace Fellowship and a $15,000 Rockefeller Foundation Multi-Arts Production Grant for his contemporary dance work. Eric runs Dandelion Dancetheater and is Assistant Professor of Theatre and Dance at CSUEB. Jane danced in (and thoroughly loved) his "Dance For All Bodies and Abilities" class at the University. One of her cane chairs now serves as a prop in some class performances.
Eric's response to the good news: "Now the work begins."
Eric's response to the good news: "Now the work begins."
Friday, December 14, 2007
THEMIS hits the big time
Our friend John S. McDonald is involved in NASA's THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) Mission to study the Aurora Borealis.
You know the project has hit the big time now because it's being discussed (ahem) on Slashdot.
The press release for their latest findings is here.
EDIT: Added a link to John's own website; be sure to check out his amazing collection of thumbnail book reviews.
You know the project has hit the big time now because it's being discussed (ahem) on Slashdot.
The press release for their latest findings is here.
EDIT: Added a link to John's own website; be sure to check out his amazing collection of thumbnail book reviews.
