Top Food Items I Like to Grill

Since the summer has show up I thought a completely arbitrary list of food I like to grill is in order. This list will be useful for Sienna later in life when she tries to identify why she hates grilled food. The reason is that my grill is located on a balcony outside her window and the door to said balcony is in her room. Yes when my daughter sleeps I still grill.

In no order.

1. Grilled vegetables. Danielle makes it with zucchini, eggplant, and whatever else looks the freshest at the K&Y Supermarket by our apartment


2. Skirt steak. I like it best when I throw some Magic Dust dry rub on it, couple of minutes on each side, throw it on some Mazzola bread and eat. When I want to get "fancy" I add mozzarella and caramelized onions.


3. New York Strip. A little salt, a little pepper, and some high heat. It just works.


4. Jumbo sized Shrimp wrapped in bacon. Either marinated or sprinkled with dry rub. Thrown onto skewers and than flash cooked. The trick with the bacon is to actually pre-cook it a little bit. It makes the wrap a lot easier.


5. Marinated Porkchop. Our butcher does a marinade involving garlic, paprika, and a million other spices that works perfectly and is the ONLY meat I ever buy pre-marinated.


6. Flank steak stuffed with fontina cheese and prosciutto. This involves an overnight preparation for the flank involving balsamic vinegar and shallots. We have used this to impress guests before - which is interesting since we change how we make it every time.


7. Lobster Tails & Claws. Danielle doesn't like lobster as much as I do so I don't make this often. It is an old crowd favorite for myself.


8. Hamburger. I used to make my own turkey burgers then my butcher introduced me to his short rib/chuck mix. I love my butcher. We have experimented with a bunch of cheeses for our burgers. Somehow it always comes down to cheddar or blue cheese.


9. Venison Sausage. Only when my friends John and Jenni come visit from Massachusetts. She is from Wisconsin and approves of the deliciousness of venison. John is just a smart man who listens to his wife.


10. Chicken sausage pinwheel & turkey pinwheel. We buy them together, cook them together, then cut them up and serve as an appetizer or side dish. It is crazy how nuts everyone goes for these. We actually did a gnosh dish involving pinwheels and then some venison and rabbit sausage on the side. It was a beautiful thing.

There you have it. I won't stop grilling & I can't wait to share some of this food with Sienna - that is if she doesn't hate the smell of it by the time she gets teeth.

Wayne

The Return to Softball & Raising the Stakes

Today. For the first time in over a month I play softball. In 100 degree weather.

The title mentions "raising the stakes" so I guess I should expound on what that means - at least in regard to this issue. Raising the stakes in non-poker parlance- is often associated with writing. That you need to put the character in danger and make the situation worse and worse and worse, and matter more and more and more - really engage the character emotionally to the situation.

Today. For the first time in over a month I play softball. In 100 degree weather. I haven't worked out in a month. My back has been injured. We are playing for first place. I haven't pitched in a year. I am pitching tonight. If we win I can play in the semi-finals playoff game on Tuesday. If we lose I cannot play in the semi-finals playoff game on Wednesday.

Stakes raised. Emotional attachment engaged.

See you on the field.

Wayne

Why I Wasn't at Yankee Stadium (Again) in the Corporate Seats (What?!)

Life isn't strange sometimes, it is the equivalent where you cry so hard you start laughing.*

If last year was the Year of the Stadium Visit with trips to Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Camden, Wrigley, and even the Staten Island Yankees then this is the year of Happy Home with Sienna.

I know fatherhood would change EVERYTHING - I didn't expect it would involve the Yankees so much since other than a lot of cursing over the years my life hasn't EVER involved the Yankees.

My boss (again) sent out an email about free tickets. Only this time is was Yankees v Red Sox game and it was to sit in the Corporate Seats. Capital letters as they are really good seats.

I've already posted how I've never been to this particular game. How it has been a dream of mine. Right? To sit in the Corporate Seats is an experience where it involves FREE FOOD. As a fan a free ticket is one thing, free food is another, and free beer makes it the Holy Grail. I suppose it is also good if your team wins.

Danielle was working the game at Citi Field and Grandma the baby sitter had guests in town. The seats were also located five rows behind the Red Sox dugout, so having Sienna sit on my lap and get him by a line drive would not look good on my parenting resume.

My co-workers went. They had a good time. I am happy for them. There really isn't anything else to the story. I was at home with my laughing daughter as a game I barely gave a second thought to played in the background.

Wayne

*If this happens with Playoff or World Series tickets then you can expect this blog post to have a lot of cursing.

Ten Things That Weren't Cool 20 Years Ago That Are Now

At some point I am going to have to explain cool/uncool/geek/dork/nerd to Sienna. Luckily I have some insight into this subject.

Twenty years I was what was considered a dork or geek. I played chess during lunch breaks and in the morning in the band room during High School, played Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, and oh so much more. What kept me from getting any beatings was that I was also a varsity wrestler. Popular? Good lord, no. Enemies? Not really. Man was I uncool though - at least objectively speaking. Amazingly enough almost everything my friends and I were into in High School are now...well...you'll see.

1. Liking comic books. Oh man were you considered a geek if you collected and read comic books in High School. Now it is a multi-billion dollar industry. Though if you point out how a movie is nothing like the comic book then...you are a geek again. I was reminded of this when the Rocketeer was on the other night and I remembered waaaaaay too much of that move than should be allowed.
   



2. Vampires. A sexy vampire killing people? Man what sort of weird fantasy were you into? Oh, it is called Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Naturally. Or un-naturally.
   



3. Ghosts. If you even said you liked or believed in ghosts then you got a really strange look. Now you can watch Ghost Hunters, Haunted History, or a ton of other ghost movies on tv. I look forward to a show about Atlantis in the new 20 years.
   



4. Statistics. Typical Boston conversation circa 1986. "Wade Boggs is terrible!" "Why? He gets on base all the time?" "He doesn't hit home runs like Jim Rice. He isn't a good enough hitter." "He gets on base 4 out of 10 times. Isn't the point to get on base?" "NO IT'S TO HIT HOME RUNS!" I blame this on Boston not sending kids to school during the 1970s integration crisis. It wasn't much better in 1991 either.
   



5. Non-sports Video Games. Another past time that was for losers or dorks. Say the following to a lot people over 35: up, down, up, down, left, right, left, right, a, b, a, b, select start. If they smile they are your friend, if they frown they are the enemy.
   



6. Flannel. Unless you were into grunge. Then it was okay. This comes back once every twenty years.
   



7. Men Being Sensitive. This one comes in and out of vogue. Back in the day it was SNAG - sensitive new age guy. Or as I would say, "Likely to be upset after Bambi's mom gets shot."
   



8. Saving Money. Using credit cards and accumulating debt seemed to be cool for a while. Heck, you could always pay it later. Couldn't afford it? That is okay there is nothing like an 18% interest! Yes, it sort of looks ridiculous when one writes in out. I saved money so I could go to movies with my friends and buy comic books.
   



9. Video cameras. The only people who used video cameras were in the AV Club. Now everyone has a video camera.
   



10. Diaries/Journal. If you told someone you had a diary 20 years ago they would have laughed at you and wondered why you would admit to such personal information. With blogs, facebook, twitter, whatever-social-network-device-du-jour it is now more common for people to give you a look if you are NOT giving out some sort of personal information.
    



11. (Freebie) Dial up computing. I used to dial in to bulletin board systems on a 1200 baud modem and play Dungeons & Dragons. Even better I was a Dungeon Master for the online version. That is when I wasn't playing Space Wars. I even had a 300 baud connection to an 800 number for the Wall Street Journal for stock quotes. I wish I had taken better advantage of THAT.

As I look at an old copy of a travel journal, I see it talks about missing playing Street Fighter 2 and reading comic books with my buddies during the summer of 1991 as I get ready for college. I've given my copy of Bambi to a friends younger sister in exchange for the use of video camera and with money I saved at my job I bought a copy of a ShadowRun - a role playing game that involves vampires and ghosts. I haven't bought my first Bill James book - though I'll learn about him soon in a newsgroup about baseball - and it'll be nearly a year before a horrified girlfriend buys me my first flannel shirt - though that is only after I . I guess that makes me 20% cool and only 80% uncool.

Now excuse me while I figure out what I am doing uncool today so I can be ahead of the curve...

Wayne

Ten Things I'll Tell My Daughter: Tips for Living a Happier Life

Ten little tips for living a happier life.

Some of these are from books, some from friends, some from enemies, and some I have just figured out on my own.

In no particular order.

1. Make a loan like you never expect the money back. It takes the pressure off yourself and will save a friendship or two at some point.
   


2. If you accept a loan, make a schedule and pay it back accordingly. It takes the pressure off yourself and will save a friendship or two at some point.
   


3. Pick up the bill if you have the means and the other person doesn't. I'm not talking about a weekend in France or something (unless it is your Mom & me, then you pay) I'm talking about if you're at dinner or drinks, or a baseball game. I learned this from someone I did not like very much at the time named Mike, who was a Graduate Assistant. I was with the UMass Hoop Band in Atlanta for the Sweet Sixteen and Mike was with us, we hit the hotel bar, and learned why you should never drink at the hotel bar. We all blew through our weekend per diem and were figuring out where the nearest ATM was Mike took out his credit card to cover the bill. We offered to pay him back and he hit us with these words of wisdom, "Sometimes you'll have the money, sometimes you won't. If you have the money and end up picking up the bill - just do it and don't bitch about it. Because someone will do it for you too."
   


4. Learn to drink your coffee black. Your Great Uncle Bill got me with this one. I was at his house and he offered me a cup of coffee, I asked from milk and sugar. "
   
   Always going to have milk around? Or sugar? Or even a leaf to flavor it?" He managed to spit out the questions rapid fire while simulatenously making it the longest question ever.
   
   Before I could figure out the reply, he gave me his version of the punchline, "Learn to drink coffee black. You never know what you will have but you'll always be able to drink what you've got."
   


5. If you like the price stop negotiating. Yes you might be able to get a dollar or two more -- you might also lose a pretty good deal. I've done both.
   


6. All major purchases should be made during off-season sales, or when you do not need it. Why? You will always get a better price. Even minor purchases should be made during off season times. You know some of those stuffed animals you liked so much as a child? Garage sales, once through the washing machine, hand to child. You're welcome.
   


7. Buy your own drinks at a bar. Well, unless you are at a corporate event and the company is paying for it. Yes, as a woman will be able to get guys to buy you drink and I'll have Danielle do a guest posting on why pay for your own drinks. Conversely, offer to buy a guy a drink. We like this.
   


8. Never argue when you are hungry. Nothing good will come of this other than instead of being hungry you're going to be hungry AND angry.
   


9. Travel as much as you can. Whether it is out of the country, or a weekend trip by car, get out and see as much of the world as you can. You never know what you might learn. Or find at a garage sale.
   


10. Never wear a pink hat to a baseball game. I cannot mention this enough.
    


11. (Freebie!) Do something stupid. You're going to do it anyway so I might as well encourage it. This is different than dumb. Dumb is drunk driving. Stupid is doing tequila shots and dancing on the bar.

Now go live your life, child.

Wayne

Ten Things I'll Tell My Daughter About Baseball Stadiums

As baseball stadiums are seemingly replaced faster than, well, whatever in your life that has frequent replacing for no reason whatsoever I'm not sure I can tell Sienna too much about what stadiums to visit. However there are a few bits of tid (see what I did there?) I can share with her to make her stadium viewing pleasurable that much more pleasurable.

1. No pink hats. Ever. Even if it is free. I will repeat this in my blog entries.
   


2. Try the local cuisine and alcohols. In Chicago it is drink the Old Style. In Baltimore go the harbor and eat a bunch of crabs then go to the stadium and visit Boog Powell's.
   


3. A free ticket is a good ticket. Always. Cancel your plans and go to the game - always worth it. The only exceptions: wedding, taking care of your baby daughter, or late Sunday night games.


4. Sit as close as you can or as far away as you can. You either want a really good view or to hang out with the diehard fans. The closer you get to the field the less likely you are to find a diehard fan.


5. Visit the following stadiums at least once: Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Citi Field, Yankee Stadium, and Camden Yards. The coincidence that those are the fields I have visited are merely that. Coincidence.


6. Okay, number five is not a coincidence.


7. Ushers and food delivery people accept bribes. This is important if you want to move up in a section or want food or alcohol delivered and don't have in seat service.


8. Go with your friends. Always a chance to get some fresh air.


9. Go to at least one opening day, one home run derby, and one playoff game.
   


10. All of these rules may be ignored if it is cold out. Baseball is not meant to be in the cold unless it is the playoffs or World Series. In that case bundle up like you are going to a football game.

And that is what Sienna needs to know about baseball stadiums right now. Okay, number 10 is a stretch as far as stadiums. Same with number 9. Hey, I ain't perfect.

Just go to the games.

Wayne

A Randomly (Needed) Great Day in Brooklyn

"He is married to someone in the Village People."

I found out that someone I helped hire last year is married to someone in the Village People. When that is only the SECOND strangest experience you have in a week, chances are you are going to need a weekend day to relax.

Danielle and I promised each other that we'd have one day exclusively to ourselves to spend with Sienna every weekend. Or at least really really try. The result is we had the type of day that is similar to so many other days we'll have in our lives. The type of day where, at the end of the day, you are just smiling at everyone and in a really good mood. The type of day that you forget about two days later - not because of any particular event, only because the day was consistently fun.

What did we do? We had no plan other than to do minimal chores.

Slept late (as late as one does with a child), Danielle read the newspaper (a real live newspaper!), I made coffee and then played Civilization, we fed Sienna when she woke up, we put Sienna in her stroller and took her around Brooklyn, we fed Sienna, we went to brunch (sitting Sienna on the table, which is my favorite new game), we fed Sienna some more, then we went around to stoop sales and a huge flea market. We came home. Danielle and Sienna took a nap while I finished my Civilization game. Then we all went back out, picked up some groceries, came home, fed Sienna again (I may have missed Sienna eating at some point), made dinner, fed Sienna and put her to bed.

It was really just a great day of all of us together. The kind of day I am happy I have blogged about since someday Sienna will see this and know sometimes the simple pleasures are the best pleasures.

Wayne