Wow.
The new cover of Sports Illustrated talks about this amazing World Series win and features Big Papi and the three Boston police officers from some of the most iconic photos on the day of the Boston Marathon bombing. Those same three officers had been on a previous cover shortly after the bombing.
As I mentioned before, I have been doing a lot of experimenting with medieval recipes in recent years. And this includes trying many of the delicious-sounding foods from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. Thanks to the diligent work of Chelsea and Sariann, we ASOIAF fans have a fantastic resource to explore our foodie sides. Everything I have made from their website and their book has been delicious, so seriously, try making some of their recipes.
Recently, I noticed something about George’s books that I had not noticed before: an utter lack of potatoes, Irish or sweet. Now, at first glance this would seem to make sense, because they are both “New World” foods that would have been unknown to medieval Europe, which is the historical basis of much of Martin’s writing. Potatoes would not be introduced to Europe until the 16th century, when the Spanish brought them over. So no potatoes in Westeros, right? Makes sense, right?
Yes, it would… except that there are plenty of examples of other New World foods that are present in Westeros. So why include them but not potatoes?
Continue reading “A quick note on history and food in ASOIAF”
It may not be a winter that lasts for years, as it has been known to do in Westeros, but this winter has come a little early here in Boston this week, with temperatures not getting out of the 40s during the day and dropping into the 20s at night. We had to turn on the heat for the first time in a good while. And of course all the animals start getting a bit more cuddly at night, except for Rerun, who wants to be on the bed but otherwise gets a little grumpy if you invade his space.
Hopefully we will get back into the habit of more regular posts now, at least that is my intent. I think I will try to talk a bit more about some of the more interesting cooking I am doing this season.
-Geoff
Hey everyone,
I wanted to say thank you for all of the kindness and consideration given to us this past week. It really does mean a lot to me to get so many cards, phone calls, visits, and all of the other things people have done for Kelly and me. We really feel loved.
And as if the universe wanted to say “sorry Geoff, here’s something to cheer you up”, my beloved Red Sox won the World Series last night, right here in Boston at Fenway Park. It is so awesome to walk around today wearing one of my Red Sox shirts and have total strangers – some with Red Sox gear, some without – suddenly smile from ear to ear and give a thumbs up, or laugh and say “Go Sox” or all sorts of other combinations. It really makes me feel great. Maybe 2013 will have some redeeming qualities after all.
And I wanted to say Happy Halloween to everyone!
Here’s some great creative costumes to check out. And of course, it wouldn’t be Halloween without the Jack Chop. *
-Geoff
*And if you haven’t seen the Jack Chop infomercial yet, what’s wrong with you? Watch it, just remember it’s NSFW.
Regular visitors around here may have noticed that it’s been quiet for a while. Sometimes life gets in the way and we can’t post, I’m sure you all understand. Sometimes life hands you great material for posting and the first thought one of us has it, “that’ll make such a good post!” Then we might go days without such inspiration.
Then sometimes life kicks you in the teeth and there just isn’t anything to say. That’s what’s been happening lately.
The church where I am currently a long term sub, St. Peter’s Episcopal in Central Square, Cambridge, has a concert series starting tomorrow night. The schedule is below.
OCTOBER
8 @ 8 pm THE QUILISMA CONSORT (recorder trio)
15 @ 6 pm OPERA BRITTENICA presents preview of THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA
22 @ 8 pm AARON LARGET-CAPLAN (classical guitar)
29 @ 8 pm NED ROREM – 90 YEARS (piano works)
NOVEMBER
5 @ 8 pm TBA
12 @ 6 pm OPERA BRITTENICA presents BENJAMIN BRITTEN SONGS
19 @ 8 pm COUNTERTENOR CABARET (countertenor duo and piano)
26 @ 8 pm LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP ORCHESTRA (NEC students)
DECEMBER
3 @ 8 pm JUDAS MACCABAEUS (excerpts from the oratorio)
10 @ 8 pm CHARLES TRENET CENTENNIAL (vocal duo and piano)
17 @ 8 pm OPERA BRITTENICA presents BRITTEN ADVENT PROGRAM
24 @ 8 pm CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE WITH CAROLS
For more information or to inquire about being a part of the series, please contact Peter Terry at peterry19 -at- gmail.com
This is the concert schedule for the series through the end of the year. More concerts will be scheduled for the new year. There are also some special musical events and services to keep on your radar.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Saturday, December 7 @ 1:00 pm MESSIAH SINGALONG
Saturday, December 7 @ 6:00 pm MIT WOMEN’S CHORALE
Monday, December 16 @ 7:30 pm FENWAY QUINTET (Brass & Organ Christmas Concert)
Saturday, January 4 @ 5:00 pm LESSONS AND CAROLS of CHRISTMAS
St. Peter’s is fully accessible, right on the 1 bus and the Central Sq. stop on the Red Line.
For more information:
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Central Square
838 Massachusetts Avenue at Sellers Street
Cambridge, MA
617.547.7788
www.saintpeterscambridge.org
~Kelly
Anyone who’s a regular reader around here knows that Geoff and I are not on Facebook. Today I ran across something on the Huffington Post that made me wish that I could actually like or upvote it or whatever it is you do on Facebook. Get out the tissues, folks, this one is horrible and amazing all at the same time.
Continue reading “Suddenly, I wish I could “like” something on Facebook”
A few years ago I drove with my dad to pick up my brother-in-law’s car that was parked at an Air Force base a few hours away. On the way down I popped in a few of my Lewis Black concert CDs, and I don’t know if I have ever seen my dad laugh so hard for so long as he did on that trip. Instant Lewis Black fan.
Well, Lewis continues to be awesome, and we love him for it. Recently, his Daily Show segment Back in Black featured his take on the homophobic comments of the CEO of Barilla, the big pasta maker. Watch it, but probably not at work.
-Geoff
Ok, so it’s October 1st. The Federal Government has effectively shut down. Open enrollment for the ACA has started, but the website isn’t working. In fact, until about 11:00am this morning, the MA iteration of the website didn’t even reflect that open enrollment for people looking for ACA healthcare effective 1/1/14 had begun.
Geoff and I have been dealing with a pile of bureaucratic red tape so high that 1) we’re tired and 2) I know now how to spell bureaucratic without looking it up or using spell check. So, in lieu of real content I present you with More things you should be reading right now. All links are, as always, SFW.
Continue reading “More things you should be reading right now”
