Celeste's Breadbox

My name is Mike. His name is Bob.

So I'm at the Burlingame Fred Meyer doing some emergency T-day shopping. As we're leaving the store, I see a rather distinctive-looking guy getting a cart. He's missing an arm, and I think, "Gee, he looks like Mike, the one-armed man from Twin Peaks." As we get closer, and pass right by him, Aaron and I realized it was him. Oh mah gawd!!! At the Freddy's!!!

Al Strobel.

Sweet macro

I broke down this weekend and finally picked up a hot macro lens for my Pentax K-1000. I can't find anyone selling this particular model, but looking around I think I got a good deal on it (insert plug for Blue Moon Cameras in St. Johns). Also picked up a tripod, so I'm all set to start taking some close-ups. Too bad it's getting on winter and there aren't as many bug around to take pictures of. But that gives me some time to play with it and work out some techniques. I'm going to have to get a donkey to start carrying all my gear when I go out though!

Another Trip to the Coast

Had another really nice stay in Yachats, with a side trip to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and a couple walks along the coast.

In the Tillamook State Forest, I found my new dream house. I envy whoever lives here. Couldn't find any feathers or other evidence, so I have no idea whose home it is.

At the Aquarium a bat star was practicing its new trapeze routine on a couple pieces of bull kelp.

Also at the Aquarium, they were displaying a horrible two-headed Rhinoceros Awklet. Or maybe it was just my camera speed and its rapid bathing activity.

I was a little disappointed in the bats exhibit at the Aquarium. There was only one display of live bats, which was very nicely done, but was a pretty small for such a large exhibit. The rest of it was mostly hands-on stuff for kids, which is great, because I want kids to think of bats more kindly, but I found to be pretty dull. The best part of it were these fanstastic bronze sculptures of different species' heads, which gave a fantastic view of their bizarre noses and ears. The octi and the otters were asleep. But the birds were great, it wasn't too crowded and the weather was nice, so it was a good stop. It's always a good stop.

Oh, but also while we were in Newport we went to Yaquina Head, which I don't think I'd ever been to before, despite the numerous signs indicating that it is an "outstanding natural area." It's nice, but I wouldn't call it "outstanding," other than spotting my first Snow Bunting. Photos are on film, I'll post them if they turn out OK. Probably not of interest to anybody except bird nerds though. We also saw a Western Medowlark, while not unusual (they are Oregon's state bird after all) it was odd to see one on the banks above a rocky coast. Not where you'd expect to see one.

No bears or whales on this one, and none of our hikes were really spectacular. Low tides were at really annoying times of the day, so we didn't get to do any real tidepooling. But it was sure nice to get out of town and away from the computer for a while.

Organic Wine

I always try to buy organic when I can, but it's always been a challenge with wines. The only one that I've noticed that commonly available around here is Erath (Willamette Valley), and like most Oregon wines it's over-priced and the Pinot Noir that I had was really nothing special. Grapes are really hard to grow organically, so I kind of gave up.

Then, a few weeks ago I was listening to the Thom Hartmann show, and taking a much-needed break from talking politics, he was interviewing the founders of the Organic Wine Company, who import and ship European organic wines in the US. I'm not usually influenced by media (I work in advertising, so I'm professionally jaded), but I don't know, there was just something I liked about these people, and I already liked french wine, and organic practices, and I gave them a try. Got a variety, nothing too spendy, mostly Provençal wines, which I have found I prefer.

The first one I opened was a Bordeaux, which turned out to be exceptionally dry. Drinkable, but not really to my taste. It was also the least expensive of them. Then I opened the 2001 Château Véronique Languedoc, and it (to me anyway) was everything a wine should be. Smooth, flavorful, not to sweet, not to dry. My new favorite wine. I haven't had a new favorite wine since the 2001 Les Heretiques. Maybe it was just a really great year in the Languedoc region? I don't read the trades, so I don't know what's a good year where, all I know what what tastes good to me, and for my conservative dollar, these two 2001 Languedocs are worth much more than they're retailing for. (BTW, the Château Véronique is the Organic Wine Company's house wine.)

I tried it out on some party guests that I knew would appreciate a good red wine, and all were in agreement. So it's not just me. With wine sometimes I really wonder. Anyway, there's my plug for a great wine, sold by nice people.

And if you need motivation to go orgainic with your wine choices, I recommend the film The Grapes of Death. Not what you'd think.

Anyone?

Anyone know of any print production manager jobs in Canada? How about the Netherlands? Finland?

long week

Had my folks in town, and a party to host, and a party to go to, and Aaron got a cold, and I've got to get my act together for a job interview. It all came out OK, and in a way made me not obsess quite so much on politics, probably a good thing.

My dad and (I guess you'd call her my) stepmother were here for their honeymoon. Installed them out at the Edgefield, where I knew they'd have a great time without having to get in the car too much. My grandmother also stopped through on the way back from visiting a cousin in southern Oregon, so we all had dinner one night out at the Black Rabbit. As usual their food was fantastic, which always surprises me at a McMenamins restaurant. We also took them to the Delta Cafe, fried chicken was necessary. Oh, and that was the lunar eclipse night, too, which we got a great view of on the way to the restaurant.

The night before the party Aaron decided that his original papier mache hair helmet was too big and too heavy, so he had to scrap it and come up with a substitute that night. It did finally get together, as did the rest of the decor.

Rabbi and the Golem

Time to trim the Nosferatu

Looking for themes for next year's Hallowe'en party, thinking about folktales. I think the German Expressionism theme was lost on a few people this year. I knew I should have sent out a recommended viewing list.