December 25, 2005
Very Short Sleigh Ride
Ho Ho Ho!
Merry Christmas Morning to everyone.
Love,
The Fisher Family
Max on Drums, BilFish on Bass, Kathy on Lead Vocals, and Liam hittin' the Keys
December 18, 2005
The Big Cooker
Yes, Chef Willy in da HOWSE!!!
Gettin' it done Euro Old Style: You can just call me Steve
This is the outfit I was given when I assisted on a recent Classic Techniques cooking class down at Cook Street
For those of you not in the know, I've been escaping the house to get out to cooking classes, and also to act as volunteer assistant for Cook Street parties and classes and such. Great way to learn the in's and out's of creating top-notch Beef Wellington, Prime Rib Roast and other succulent delights.
Despite not hosting Christmas this year, I'm still on duty for the primary meats, hopefully I remember what I learnt.
December 15, 2005
December 14, 2005
Max & Liam photos over there...
A few new seasonal pix of the kiddies.
Check 'em out at the FisherBrothers.info website
December 13, 2005
HOWSE lights
You'd think the message is: Because 2nd place is for losers.
But the message really is: Enjoy the season!
And light things up a bit in these dark times of the season and dark political times for the U.S.*
*Yes, I know, energy is a major part of our problem. I do work to manage things with timers and new energy-saving bulbs. I also turned the water heater down to 32 degrees, so that helps.
December 12, 2005
PR is a tough job
No matter what people may say about PR people like the Colorado Rapidos' Jorge Mainkla, they have a tough job to perform. It's like trying to win Survivor without selling your soul. Difficult.
For proof, look no further than the recent Mathis trade. Despite having no possible good news, the PR staff ultimately came through by focusing on Clint's strong hairdo appearance almost 4 years ago.
This was an evolution of thought, however. First came a few draft press releases. Rapidsfan.com, in true investigative-computer-hacking style, found this earlier version of the announcement on the ColoradoRapidos.com website.
December 10, 2005
Bodum Cappuccino
More Nespresso News:
Nespresso Tips 2006!
Nespresso Price Hike 2005
More Tips 'n' Maintenance
Tips 'n' Maintenance
Nespresso Lifestyle & How to Order
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I love this tagline... Bodum: Give up bad design for good
Canteen double-walled glass
Mmmm! Early Christmas gift from my sister Susana Banana. 4 mouth-blown high-temperature glass double-walled vessels for the enjoyment, appreciation and --ultimately-- consumption of cappuccino and other delights.
In the background is our Nespresso Machine of Joy
Update 1/1/06: Let me just say that having used the glasses for several weeks now, I've grown to love their functionality alongside their stylishness. They are perfectly-sized for a great cappuccino, the slightly larger rounded version is perfect for my honey's mocha, and they keep the coffee warmer much longer, which is right up my honey's alley, so to speak.
December 09, 2005
Berry Snow
Dad, you need a new hobby
Our Russian Hawthorne after the storm. Max looks on incredulously in the background.
December 08, 2005
Cookie Decorating! Errr....
Decorative Joys of Ginger
With Teenagers, you have to smell the enjoyment. Sure as shit you can't see it!
Decorative Joys II: "No, YOU rock"
With adults, it's easier. Apparently, we're quickly amused.
Decorative Joys III: Tequila Love
The tastiest way to manage a cookie decorating night filled with great gingerbread, surly teenagers, and messy toddlers!
December 07, 2005
Christmas Cards
I enjoy the holiday greeting card. It's a way to make all the losers I know jealous, and to otherwise update everyone else on what we look like if they happen to run into us at the State Fair or simply wish to avoid us in the local Safeway.
And, while Kathy does the graphics work to bring our family to pristine life, I am the wordsmith. Forging text into something poetic and wonderful, capturing the feeling of the moment and all that.
Here was my first attempt, which was nixed not for its creativity or truthfulness, but because we didn't want to have to print two different cards (costs a bit more).
The rest of the year may suck.
But really, who gives a fuck?
Merry Christmas to you,
And stop the boo hoo hoo!
Enjoy '06! The Fishers
Needless to say, too much honesty is not what we're after in America. When people say, "How ya doin?" they aren't really asking How Are You Doing?
And, before offering a few more of my offerings for the greeting card's text, here's what we ended up with...
Liam & Maxwell sprouting like weeds,
Impressing Santa with many good deeds
Mommy & Daddy watching them grow,
Now sitting, now walking,
Now running to and fro
The year ahead majestically filled,
Dreams and hopes and a future untilled. Fishers 2005
Back to drafts that never made it...
Toning things down a bit (but not enough):
2005 didn’t fly according to plan.
But really, who gives a jolly ol’ damn.
or
It’s time to forget about 2005,
‘06 is coming and we’re still alive.
Funny, but still too much truth:
‘05 was one of those years to forget,
We have hopes that ‘06 is really a hit.
But even if the year is the same as the last,
Really, we plan to not give a shit!
Enjoy ‘06, stop worrying and learn to love the bomb.
Anyway.... Like I said, I've got high hopes for the rest of December and 2006!
December 06, 2005
Things that suck
I'm voting a bit early.
2005 sucks. The entire year, pretty much.
I still have high hopes for December, though.
So here's a typical event from this year (happened last night):
Daddio wants to see some Christmas lights, his "big bit o' fun" of the weekend.
Yep, 20 minutes of driving in frigid cold weather to see a few lights.
Sonny boy Liam decides he wants to stick his hand down his throat and puke up dinner all over himself and the car seat. Nothing smells better than having French Onion Soup coming back up mixed with milk curds!
So much for a relaxing time viewing the works of my neighbors.
On the plus side
But, on the plus side, I've been cooking more. Reference French Onion Soup.
For Thanksgiving I put together about 10 dishes, including several appetizers, pies and other baked goods, potatoes served three ways, relishes, salads, Fuzzy's Aspen Butternut Squash Soup, and of course a beautiful natural turkey with full trimmings, spiced gravy, stuffing, brussel sprouts with bacon and hazelnuts, etc.
This past couple days, lessee.... Friday night we made gingerbread cookies (well, my wife did) whilst I put together sugar cookies and made some dee-lish quesadillas to give us something a bit non-sweet to eat whilst we decorated.
I followed that up with a fantastic eggs benedict including a juiced-up Hollandaise sauce (secret: shallots, white wine, bay leaves) on some thick apple-smoked bacon from the meat shop.
Then that evening (errr, two nights ago now) I put together a nice French onion soup, inspired by a day-old baguette, the cold temperatures, and a cooking class I recently assisted on down at Cook Street.
And pretty much, it all turned out damn fine, which is delightful given that almost everything was a new recipe. I'm crediting it to my cooking classes and increased Skillz in the Kitchen. Good skills and background knowledge are leading to better products on the table. Yum-de-dum-dum!
December 05, 2005
What is "cold?"
Sometimes, living in Colorado, it's hard to know what cold is.
In Wyoming, for example, they say the wind doesn't blow, it sucks. And then they blame North Dakota for doing the sucking...
But here? Sunny 300+ days a year, shorts-wearing weather in November, and 350 inches of snow at the ski resorts west of me.
Well, today, it's cold, I think.
about 16 degrees this morning, and windy. Golden reported 92 MPH wind gusts, and the wind has been strong enough to keep Fuzzy and I awake beginning about 3 am.
As if we didn't have enough things to keep us awake at night. It's still windy this afternoon, fences blowing away, trucks tipping over, the whole nine yards.
And tomorrow it's going to be 15 degrees colder.
Brrrrr....
