Saved from the vaults

Dad is the dark, cool guy at the wheel

For some reason (being male for starters?), my Dad didn't really share much of his past. The stories that did make it out almost make you understand why.

Anyway, in addition to the many things he did one of them was musician, specifically drums. When I was a kid, everyone had record players that could easily play records recorded at 16, 33 1/3, 45 and 78. Not today. USB turntables only spin at the common 33 and 45 speeds so when I uncovered the only existing copy of the time my Dad and a bunch of his friends purchased time in a recording studio I had to find a way to digitize it. Thankfully, my Mom gave me an old console stereo that plays at 78 so I set the needle down and here, for your listening pleasure is the song Melancholy baby. By the way, it's an a capella version with Dad providing the scat singing and drums (brushes, really).

Tuesday is much less verbose than quitting smoking, day 4, plus...

This blog is not going to turn into some enlightened anti-smoking read, or worse, one mans "obsession" with quitting. Only days that mean something or contribute to a story. Having said that....I have a story!

Today is the first day I am supposed to take two 0.5 mg tabs, both critically WITH food otherwise it's more creative images of cartoons throwing up.

First pill was no problem. I had it with lunch. The second, however, took awhile because Kel and I went to see Joanna Newsom at the Synagogue at 6th & I here in DC. Luckily, the venue is near Chinablock so we were able to sit down to a couple of Steamed pork plates (terrible, terrible). Problem was I forgot to take the pill at dinner with food now didn't have any water (the Synagogue, being a holy place) doesn't sell any consessions and didn't want to risk missing the show by being ill so later, I made myself something to eat at 11:30 and took it with water, thus, keeping myself on schedule. So far, nothing to write home about so all is good.

Quitting smoking, day 3

OK, I put this picture up because I just LOVE it. It does NOT reflect my day, per se. I feel like a clown here at work, I'm just not losing a rainbow over it.

Today has been a piece of cake. Took my last 0.5 mg. tab today. Tomorrow I move onto 1 mg and I have a feeling I may be needing to find more pictures or drawings of things throwing up.

Stay tuned!

Quitting smoking, day 2

OK, so day 2 was a difficult one because we had made plans to go to the circus so I didn't take the pill because I didn't want to mess up the day.

For dinner Kelly made the most amazing braised pork bellies (terrible, terrible) so, with some trepidation, I took the second pill halfway through dinner. About an hour later I felt a little nausea but it quickly subsided.

The question, of course, is, was the nausea induced by the pill or the quarter lb. of pig fat I ate? It was the pill, btw.

I don't feel like the drug is working just yet, more like it's moving its tentacles throughout my body.

Oh, by the way, the circus ROCKED. Everyone really had a great time.

Quitting smoking, Day 1

So, I've decided after 29 years of sucking nicotine that I'm quitting. Why? Basically, I had a chest x-ray last week that came up negative and it occurred to me that maybe I've been dodging a bullet for awhile now.

So, I read the instructions for the drug I'm taking, Chantrix and then didn't follow them. The main one being taking it with food. Since I didn't the day was a wash as I was awash in nausea. Felt like I was gonna die. 

Kelly did some research with Dr. Google and found that the food thing (as well as a full glass of water) is critical. We'll see tomorrow.

BTW, the image above was Warren Zevon's signature image for most of his career. I actually used to have a real human skull that my Grandpa, who was a Dentist, had on his desk to illustrate to patients the work he was going to be doing. I bring that up because way before Mr. Zevon used this picture. I had my skull clasping a cigarette in it's teeth. Maybe by quitting I won't end up like Warren.

52 ticks made much easier

March 7th is my birthday and anyone who knows me knows that I enjoy other peoples birthdays much more than my own. It's not that I don't mind being born. To me, everyday is everyone's birthday but I digress.

So, MY birthday weekend began with friends and Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland 3D. It was, to me a return for Burton. The whole film, from cast to story to technical stuff and direction is solid. Afterwards and after making the mistake of going to some douche bar called Rockets, Kelly and I walked the group to a little bar we used to go grab a drink at back in our American Art days.

On Saturday, it was family day. Kel invited me over for dinner and she made my favorite dish she makes, Kima. YUM! Afterwards, we all gathered around a cake and they sang Happy Birthday to me (below, audio only). She gave me a new leather cuff and the kids each gave me a card they drew for me.

And, finally, yesterday, she took me to dinner at the Inn at Little Washington. W O W.

Had a awesome dinner. Started in the sitting area. She had an Old Fashioned and I, a Martini. After, they seated us at the table to the right in the picture. Kel ordered a bottle of Malbec and the game began.

First, they set down four spoons with little tastes of:

Beet Mousse (AMAZING)

Mini Baked Potato (Cute, but, whatever)

Risotto balls (AMAZING)

Black Cod (Great, not amazing)

then Roasted Red Pepper soup (Yummy, but I can't eat peppers. I did taste it though)

A four course meal followed. We created a plan to maximize our collective order.

First course:

Carpaccio of Herb Crusted Baby Lamb with Caesar Salad Ice Cream (AMAZING)

Veal Tongue Raviote (AMAZING)

Second course:

Homemade Boudin Blanc (White sausage) (A let down)

Hot and Cold Foie Gras with Sauternes Jelly (AMAZING)

Third course

Lamb loin w/ braised Lentils and Seared Foie Gras (AMAZING)

Rabbit Loin on house cured Pancetta (Yummy, but nothing spectacular

Dessert:

Port and an amazing Cheese cart selection. (AMAZING)

Thanks Kel for the happiest birthday I have had in decades (you can say that when you're in your 50s)