a list of tens

I had this idea on the way to work this morning. It may be a good one or it may be a dud, we shall find out. I would like to ask the few of you out there who read this to participate in a little study. I want everyone to choose 10 songs from any time period or genre. You can choose any songs you want. The interesting part will be that you have to organize this list using some sort of methodology and then explain your list and why it is the way it is. This is sort of
High Fidelity-esque but I think it could be fun. Let me know if you are interested in this and if so, post your responses on your blog or my comments link below. I myself have not yet done this so stay posted for my list in the coming hours/days.

Christmas time

I made the decision a long time ago that I would never adorn any residence of mine with colored Christmas lights. I have never liked them, will probably never like them and could never understand why other people have such an affection for them. I am no Scrooge, I just prefer the plain white lights. Having said that, I will flash forward to present day.

Abbey and I are new home owners, working on about 4 months now. When we bought the house it was a bit run down and completely out of date but with enormous untapped potential. So, for the past 4 months we have been ripping wallpaper off the walls, tearing old walls down, putting new walls up, and basically re-doing every part of the house in some way or another. I am very, let me say it again, VERY fortunate that Abbey is as understanding as she is. When it comes to the house she has pretty much given me free reign. She has let me do everything to this house that I have wanted to with little to no resistance. Don't get me wrong, I run the ideas past her to make she doesn't hate them, and then with her approval I move on. (I will post before and after photos after we get the flooring done, estimated completion date: 2.1.07)

So, back to the beginning. In the spirit of Christmas, Abbey mentioned the other day that she wanted to decorate the house with Christmas lights. I became excited because I love this time of year and what better way to begin the Christmas season than by lighting our first house. This is about when she said that she loves the colored bulbs and then asked which ones I love. She could tell by the way I looked at her that her colored bulb comment didn't sit well with me. She went on about how they always had the colored bulbs as a kid and everyone in her neighborhood had the colored bulbs and it wouldn't feel the same without them. I was thinking there is no way I am putting those awful gaudy colored bulbs on our brand new (built in '53) home. The conversation didn't go much further than that and I kind of forgot about the whole thing. That is until I was at Target the other night wondering around seeing what else I could spend money on. I was walking through the Christmas section and up to the lights. I decided at that moment that since Abbey has been so understanding through this whole house renovation and I love her, I will surprise her by decorating the house with colored Christmas lights. So tonight while she was at Starbucks studying, I went out on the windiest night in history and hung colored Christmas lights on our new home. She was very happy, and you know what? they don't look too bad.

The Cappuccino

So for the past two years I have been nursing a slight obsession with the cappuccino. I must say though that my taste for the coffee bean isn't solely limited to the cappuccino. I enjoy many other forms of the drink: the latte, the macchiato, the frappuccino, and I consume about 4 cups of the stuff in its pure brewed form [black] each day. However, nothing can top the perfectly brewed Italian espresso mixed with just enough milk to make it creamy and then topped with a healthy amount of perfectly steamed froth. Truthfully, making a good cappuccino is an art form. I can't tell if my love for the breakfast drink stems solely from the taste and delight one feels when sipping on one while reading a book or the paper, or if there is something stronger or deeper there. I feel there is a great amount of romanticism involved with making a really good cappuccino. It is unlike most drinks in that a great amount of time and dedication goes not only in to making each cup, but in learning how to make your first cup. The first time you steam the milk into a rich froth, or attempt to pour a design into your cup. Learning how much milk to seam or how hard to tamp the espresso before extracting it. You know that when you order a cappuccino at your favorite coffee shop, a lot of hours have gone into that very cup.

About 3 months ago, my parents bought Abbey and me an espresso maker for a house warming gift. I am just now getting the hang of it and I must say, I make a pretty decent cappuccino. The only problem with that is, I cannot stop drinking them. Here is an image of one my cappuccinos. I have not yet mastered the artful pour of the milk, but as mentioned above...it takes time.

the new blogger

I attempted to get on the computer and blog tonight, only I ended up spending the past 45 minutes playing with all the new settings. Funny, with all of the new toys and options blogger is offering now, I seem to have come up with a layout that takes no advantage of them. Oh well, I like things simple. Sorry for the false alarm as I am now too tired to write anything worth while [not that anything I write is worth while anyway]. I was thinking earlier of what my next topic should be. I think I am going to write about my obsession with cappuccino.

And for those who have been asking about our wedding photos:

enjoy.

check back soon! I feel the need to post is upon me. When? soon.

a quick tease.

Sorry to those few (maybe no) readers I have out there for the lack of posting especially with the amount of interesting activity I have had in my life lately. It is however, this activity that has kept me from blogging. So in tradition of not blogging I will end here and leave you with these.

http://www.lemonlimephoto.com/sessions/abbeybarrett/

and these.

A quick stop on a 3 hour drive

Our new cottage

Beautiful Storm

I had to post some of the shots I got last night of a storm clipping the edge of the city. These were taken out of my bedroom window. The storm never amounted to anything, not around here at least, but it definately put on a great lightning show.

Leon at the Voodoo Lounge

Growing up, I spent my weekdays at my mom's house and weekends at my dad's house. During those weekend days we had developed a bit of a routine. Friday night we almost always played monopoly, ate twizzlers and went to bed late. Saturday morning though was when my education occurred. My father, a product of the '60's has absolutely fantastic taste in music. I grew up spending my Saturday mornings listening to some of the greatest rock bands in the history of the world. Bands like Poco, Crosby Stills and Nash, Neil Young, CSN&Y, The Band, Joe Cocker, The grateful Dead, Loggins and Messina, The Eagles, Yes, The Souther Hillman Furrey band...just to name a few. A few weeks ago I got a call from my step mom mentioning she had a great idea for my dad's birthday present. Leon Russell is coming to town. Would you want to go with your dad if I bought the tickets is what she asked me. "Oh I would have to check my sched_of course I would like to go!"
Well, last Thursday was the night of the show at the voodoo lounge in Harrah's casino (which is actually a great venue). The opening band was Dave Mason whom was a founding member of a little band called Traffic ( also, a phenomenal band). Anyway he rocked the stage for a while and I must say sounded equally as good now (60 years old) as on his old albums.

Then it happened. After Mason's stage crew had retrieved all of there equipment and Leon's had set all of his up...he appeared. A man with about 2 feet of stark white hair hanging from his head and an equal amount from his face. He made his way across the stage with the help of a cane and took his seat behind his piano. The rest of his band made there way on stage and they began to rock. They began playing Hummingbird, and that unmistakable voice of ol' Leon kicked in and still sounds fantastic. He sounded just as he does on all my old albums of his. I stood there like a little kid in awe with a smile on my face the whole time. I must be brutally honest though, he looks like he is about 152 years old. My dad said it best when he said it looks like old Leon died about 10 years ago. I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to see a musical icon like Leon Russell rockin on stage in my lifetime.

Throughout the course of my life I have developed quite the affection for food. I love preparing, cooking, smelling, and eating food. I would have to say that My favorite type or genre of food is Italian. I love how simple it is. With such a small palate of ingredients the Italians have a way of creating some of the biggest flavors and diverse dishes. Ever since my stay in Italy I have had this no food will ever taste as good as it did in Italy attitude. The same attitude I have towards coffee, wine, and pretty much everything else. That is until this past weekend. My grandpa came in town to celebrate my dad and my aunt's birthdays. In celebration we decided to go to 40 sardines . Now I must preface the rest of the story with a quick description of my grandpa. He grew up on the Chesapeake bay eating oysters and lobsters. He now lives in Chicago and has enjoyed the culinary delights of the rosebud and other highly respected restaurants. What I am trying to say, he has eatin some really good food and when he puts his seal of approval on it, you know it is good.

Now back to the story. We arrive at 40 sardines and immediately choose a bottle of wine. My family knows the affection I have for the fruit of the vine so they let me choose. I decided to go with a bottle from the 20 wines @ 20 dollars list, the Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon. They have a really fantastic wine list with bottles ranging from 24-350 dollars a bottle. Rather then choosing an expensive bottle I have never tasted, I chose a lesser expensive bottle that I knew was pretty good.

A glass later it came time to order. The special: pan seared scallops with a gruyere potato cake and lightly steamed spinach leaves...I'll take it! But first I would like the house gnocchi. Others ordered things like ahi tuna steaks, Alaskan halibut, roasted chicken, and Parmesan pork sirloin. When the food came, it was just like that scene out of what about bob? All of us where making the mmmmm, oh my, this is de-licious sounds. and eventually dinner turned into everyone passing forks back and forth accompanied by the words, "You have got to try this". Everyone's meals where equally as delicious as mine. The creme brulee I had to top off the delicious meal may have put me over the edge though. Upon returning home I headed straight for the couch to lie down, not raising again for a solid 45 minutes. I was so full that movement of any kind was strictly prohibited. The only other meal I have had that left me as satisfied as this one, a lunch in an Italian town called Piensa. I think of few of you may remember that. I tell you this story for one reason. In hopes that you too will go and experience the fantastic tastes of 40 sardines and when you do, please, tell me what you thought.

Kansas City on the Fly
So for the last week I have been putting in a few extra hours a night at work. While I don't necassarily enjoy putting in the extra time, it does allow me to enjoy some fantastic light on the way home. I have been inspired as of late to shoot some pics of KC while on my drive home, sometimes shooting from my car without so much as even slowing down. Having said that, here are a few of the images I have added to my library.

No one that has drunk old wine wants new; for he says, "The old is nice."

~Luke 5:39

I would like to spend some time speaking of a hobby I have developed. I spent some time in Italy a while ago (not that I had to mention that, the only people that read this blog were there with me) and developed a taste for the fruit of the vine. During my travels I tasted wine from many different regions in Italy, Umbria, Abbruzzo, Montepulciano, and the famous Chianti. In fact I took a fantastic trip with some friends via taxi through the heart of Chianti in search of vineyards and the perfect glass. Due to a few too many glasses the night prior, we struggled through the winding roads of Chianti, at least until we found a cafe for a panini and a capuccino. On that trip we discovered a quaint vineyard, Panzanello. It was here where I tasted what I still consider the best glass of wine I have ever tasted. The Panzanello Chianti Classico Reserva 2001. I bought a bottle and a bottle of the Chianti Classico 2002. I opened the '02 the night I asked Abbey to be my wife. Upon tasting this wine, my memories were confirmed. This wine was absolutely exquisite. I am saving the '01 for our one year anniversary. It will join the other bottles I have accrued over the past two years until that date. The stars being: two The Chocolate Block 2003, one Constant 2001 cabernet sauvignon, one Girard 2003 petite syrah, and of course Panzanello Chianti Classico Reserva 2001. I don't know when I will drink these bottles, perhaps I will wait for the perfect occasion for the corking of the Constant (which holds the highest dollar value at $80.00/bottle) or one day grab it on my way out the door to a fast food restaurant as Paul Giamatti discovered to be the perfect place for his vintage bottle, a 1961 Cheval Blanc, in Sideways.
Whenever these bottle find there way onto my palate, I am sure they will be splendid. Besides the financial repercussions of the hobby, I can't think of more enjoyable way to pass the time than sipping on delicious bottle of red.

MY RETURN TO MOTION

So for my first post in quite some time (excluding the response to a tagging I received) I have chosen to blog about my recent return to an active lifestyle.

I graduated in May of last year and along with my exit from Manhattan, KS came an exit from an life riddled with intramural sports and the occasional pick up basketball game. In place of this I found a sedentary lifestyle to be a comfortable alternative. This is however until I realized that this lifestyle was having negative effects on my figure. I have noticed a few changes, all additions, to the ol' body. I had decided that this is unacceptable about 6 months ago, joined a gym and began working out...for about 1 hour. I had the greatest intentions for myself.
The plan was to work out about 3 time a week and start eating healthier. I even said to myself that I would work out in the morning before work. This is where I should have know that this plan was bound to derail before it even developed. Despite the absurdity of my intentions I gave it a go. 6.30am the next morning, the alarm begins the ring. My hand swings through the air with astonishing accuracy and velocity to strike the snooze button without even so much as grazing the other buttons.

This repeats many times bringing me to today, 6 months and about 8 trips the gym later. I am now however, on my second consecutive day of activity. Last night I played 5 on 5 full court basketball. The work out was tuff, in fact I felt as if my lungs had collapsed about 4 minutes into the first game of three. By the end I felt inches from death.
Tonight I played volleyball in a local architecture league. We lost to HOK, a solid team with two stand out players that can spike the holy hell out the ball.



So as the second day of my glorious return to activity comes to an end...I am sore as hell!

My Top Five's

In response to a recent "tagging" from Studio109, here are my top five's:

IN THE KITCHEN:

1. Red Wine
2. Black Pepper
3. Espresso Maker
4. Milk
5. Pasta from the River Market


IN THE CLOSET:

1. Your favorite Marino Wool Black Sweater
2. Dry Cleaning
3. Flip Flops
4. Black Shoes
5. The one hat you where when you play golf.


IN MY BAG:

1. Thinking Architecture
2. Day Planner
3. Moleskine
4. Uni-ball vision (micro) Pens_black
5. I-pod


AT THE OFFICE:

1. Post-it Notes
2. Monthly calendar
3. That one great coffee cup
4. 10 x 10
5. Internet


AT HOME:

1. A Fantastic Woman
2. Vonnegut
3. A couch you can sleep on ( not a sleeper sofa)
4. Fresh Flowers
5. A turn table with a fantastic collection of albums

new sites

I have been working on a few projects for the wedding recently. One being a wedding blog www.abkwedding.blogspot.com and the other being a wedding website, www.cbkroll.com . I hope that you check them out. The website is my first one of any consequence and may be changing over the next few days/weeks as I am still learning how it works and I am a little unhappy with how it looks at the present. But nonetheless, check it out. I will be blogging about the wedding planning process and putting all the appropriate info on the site, i.e. embarrassing pics of the groomsmen and so on. out.

I am getting married!!

It is true. After a little over 3 years, I finally asked abbey to be my wife...She said yes. August 4 is the a tentative date set right now. We will be married in Wichita so get ready to hit the road kids because this will be a celebration you won't want to miss. I am going to try to start a wedding blog or website with all the info on that so that people can stay up to date with all of our plans. Once that is made I will post the address on this blog so that those few of you that still visit every now and again have access to the site. Well, it has been too long since I have left a post and for that I apologize. I hope all are well out there is computer world. Enjoy your friday.