Ahhh, New Year's Eve. Great time for introspection, and forsight for another calendar year. A milestone in the lifecycle of life. A time to mark the ending of another great year. I can sum it up, but it would be too boorish.
I slept in real late this morning, to prepare for a long day of cycling, cooking and relaxing. Suited up in the early afternoon and biked out to Harpers Ferry - one of my more enjoyable rides, it was my last training ride of the calendar year - it was the 52 miles I did today to finish the 14,249 miles for 2005 (2004 was 12,068 miles, total of 26,327 total recorded miles to date).
I cleaned up and went over to a friend's house for a pre-New Years Eve party get together, lotta food and fun. I'm not much of a New Years Eve person these days - too many drunk drivers out on the road - so I keep thing simple. It was my speed to enjoy that party. I had some coffee and a few desserts, and went to the store to pick up a few last minute thangs and a few videos for the rest of the weekend. Picked up War of the Worlds (great special effects, but the whole movie made me anxious, unsure why) and Dukes of Hazzard (will see this tomorrow). I realized that all the other big time stores were closed (even Walmart!).
Came home and watched War of the Worlds while my Chicken Spinach Florentine Rolls baked. When the movie was done, I prepared the dish, garnish and such for photographing it as the first item for my 2006 Cookbook (pictired). At about the time I finished photographing, it was suddenly 2006, the ball dropped and I was in a daze of food photography. A friend called to wish me Happy New Year, thank you, Kari.
Will be a relaxing segway into the new year, a day off and time with my parents on Monday - then back to work on Tuesday (uhhhg).
Happy New Year!
I slept in real late this morning, to prepare for a long day of cycling, cooking and relaxing. Suited up in the early afternoon and biked out to Harpers Ferry - one of my more enjoyable rides, it was my last training ride of the calendar year - it was the 52 miles I did today to finish the 14,249 miles for 2005 (2004 was 12,068 miles, total of 26,327 total recorded miles to date).
photo by d. scott gregory 2005 Cycling Log total, 14,249 miles click on photo to enlarge |
I cleaned up and went over to a friend's house for a pre-New Years Eve party get together, lotta food and fun. I'm not much of a New Years Eve person these days - too many drunk drivers out on the road - so I keep thing simple. It was my speed to enjoy that party. I had some coffee and a few desserts, and went to the store to pick up a few last minute thangs and a few videos for the rest of the weekend. Picked up War of the Worlds (great special effects, but the whole movie made me anxious, unsure why) and Dukes of Hazzard (will see this tomorrow). I realized that all the other big time stores were closed (even Walmart!).
Came home and watched War of the Worlds while my Chicken Spinach Florentine Rolls baked. When the movie was done, I prepared the dish, garnish and such for photographing it as the first item for my 2006 Cookbook (pictired). At about the time I finished photographing, it was suddenly 2006, the ball dropped and I was in a daze of food photography. A friend called to wish me Happy New Year, thank you, Kari.
Will be a relaxing segway into the new year, a day off and time with my parents on Monday - then back to work on Tuesday (uhhhg).
Happy New Year!
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What a strange and wonderful day. Strange in that it was the Friday before a three day weekend - New Years weekend, and little drama unfolded. Work was just work, my training ride was an unblemished misnomer on the tarmac of training rides, regardless of how lonely it was, all 44 miles out to Purcellville and back. One of the last rides of this year. Much introspection and summary as I hammered into the darkness.
Finished up and ran a few errands - picked up the companion shelving unit for my desk (pictured below) to compliment all the silly ofice/studio remodelling that I want to finish before the new year. Drove home and took a quick shower before my date, much fun, yet limited in time - grrr. She always has family obligations or work to prepare for, so it was a quick date - a mere lovely dinner at a local culinary snobby establishment...then dessert at my pad, more Pumpkin White Chocolate Creme Brulee, teemed with espresso to wash it all down. She took off, to prepare for an early morning. I was impressed by the level of "professionalism" she has in our relationship....oh screw that. No wonder we are barely a couple - too busy to make it a priority.
So, I decided to enjoy my late night singledom doing what I usually do anyways, work on my place and cook. The cooking will take place tomorrow night - but preparations were lined up. I went ahead and tenderized a bunch of chicken breasts in preparation for a tapenade stuffing roll that I'm gonna prepare for tomorrow night.
While doing this, I decided to assemble the new shelves in my office/studio (pictured). They look great. Next step, to get rolex cable wire consealers - I abhor the miscellaneous cables of things to show - pardon the dust in the photos.
I moved my grandfather's desk into my diningroom, makes for a semi-cool buffet.
Overall, was a splendid day - even if I feign the enthusiasm.
Here are the pics:
Finished up and ran a few errands - picked up the companion shelving unit for my desk (pictured below) to compliment all the silly ofice/studio remodelling that I want to finish before the new year. Drove home and took a quick shower before my date, much fun, yet limited in time - grrr. She always has family obligations or work to prepare for, so it was a quick date - a mere lovely dinner at a local culinary snobby establishment...then dessert at my pad, more Pumpkin White Chocolate Creme Brulee, teemed with espresso to wash it all down. She took off, to prepare for an early morning. I was impressed by the level of "professionalism" she has in our relationship....oh screw that. No wonder we are barely a couple - too busy to make it a priority.
So, I decided to enjoy my late night singledom doing what I usually do anyways, work on my place and cook. The cooking will take place tomorrow night - but preparations were lined up. I went ahead and tenderized a bunch of chicken breasts in preparation for a tapenade stuffing roll that I'm gonna prepare for tomorrow night.
While doing this, I decided to assemble the new shelves in my office/studio (pictured). They look great. Next step, to get rolex cable wire consealers - I abhor the miscellaneous cables of things to show - pardon the dust in the photos.
I moved my grandfather's desk into my diningroom, makes for a semi-cool buffet.
Overall, was a splendid day - even if I feign the enthusiasm.
Here are the pics:
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nice mother in law's tongue plant. i've got one that is older than i am. it's my pet plant that you can't kill. love it.
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# posted by 
: 1:09 PM
: 1:09 PM
Yet another productive workday to make the day slide by faster than cat crap on linoleum. But the weather was not too cooperative, nothing dramatic beyond a little rain in the morning to make a wierd commute. Before I knew it, it was 4pm and the workday was almost over.
I suited up and headed out before 6pm to go on a relatively wet training ride out past Leesburg and back - a mere 34 miles. I turned around because I was getting wet and the temperature was dropping. I was the ONLY person out there, not even deer, although I did see a fox - strange ellusive things, between a dog and a cat.
Finished up and drove home after a quick errand, for an evening of salad munching, bill paying, authoring Xmess Thank you cards, some mindless TV on mute while listening to jazz, and some planning for the News Year Eve/Day weekend. I did manage to take a quick photo of the new pro kitchen knife set I got for xmess, the cookbook...and a funny anomaly...a bottle of Menage a Trois that I picked up the other night. A strange tableau that it is.
Time to tally up the last week of my cycling/training log for the year...and download the 2006 cycling log (PDF) for next year. Yeee Hawwwwwwww!
Life is Good.
I suited up and headed out before 6pm to go on a relatively wet training ride out past Leesburg and back - a mere 34 miles. I turned around because I was getting wet and the temperature was dropping. I was the ONLY person out there, not even deer, although I did see a fox - strange ellusive things, between a dog and a cat.
photo by d. scott gregory New Knives, Cookbook & some wine click on photo to enlarge |
Time to tally up the last week of my cycling/training log for the year...and download the 2006 cycling log (PDF) for next year. Yeee Hawwwwwwww!
Life is Good.
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Ok, I finally had a little bit of time to post-blog a few last entries from over the xmess holiday for Saturday, 12/24 - Monday 12/26.....one can scroll up, or go back to read.
That being done, I can move on.
Wednesday, hump day. Well sort of. Least it's a short week, feels like Thursday tho. My time/space conundrum is all fucked up. Woke up and ready for a productive day. That it was. The weather warmed up a bit, in the low 50s. I was hankering to go on a really long training ride after work. Work was just work, but very productive.
Suited up and headed out - it was by far the most pleasant solstice ride out to Hamilton and back, a mere 41 miles. It was very quiet out there, in a very uncanny kinda way. But a sense of stillness. My thoughts turned inward as my body glided in motion thru the dark and coldness. Time to finish things before the end of this year. Stupid asss responsibilities.
Finished up and drove home to an evening of more catchup, thank you cards, correspondence and finally time to post-blog (come full circle).
~ fin ~
That being done, I can move on.
Wednesday, hump day. Well sort of. Least it's a short week, feels like Thursday tho. My time/space conundrum is all fucked up. Woke up and ready for a productive day. That it was. The weather warmed up a bit, in the low 50s. I was hankering to go on a really long training ride after work. Work was just work, but very productive.
Suited up and headed out - it was by far the most pleasant solstice ride out to Hamilton and back, a mere 41 miles. It was very quiet out there, in a very uncanny kinda way. But a sense of stillness. My thoughts turned inward as my body glided in motion thru the dark and coldness. Time to finish things before the end of this year. Stupid asss responsibilities.
Finished up and drove home to an evening of more catchup, thank you cards, correspondence and finally time to post-blog (come full circle).
~ fin ~
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Busy busy busy. That's how I can describe the day...and I wish I had 4-6 more hours everyday.
Woke up tired and sore after the weekend, knee and back hurting after all the lifting and standing all day cooking over the weekend. Spent the day at work playing catchup and allowing time to do things while there was no drama, lotta people still off for the Holidays. Always highly productive when there's zero drama.
The weather had suprizingly warmed up to the low 50s (again tomorrow) - so after work I went on a very nice, albeit quiet training ride on the bike trail out past Leesburg to Peonean Springs and back, was a nice interlude of sweat, fog, wind, darkness, and sore knees. Saw about 15 deer - all loooked suprized, because it's been a while since I've been on the trail (been doing training rides in the 'burbs on a 5 mile loop when it's frigid out).
Finished up and stopped by Office Depot to check out a computer desk that I saw online, and was pleasantly greeted with the final search of my new computer desk. After little deliberation and much worry how I was going to get it home - I went ahead and had an impulse moment - just bought it (after I measured my car). But it was heavvvyyy (the box - it required assembly), and fragile - a black tempered glass desktop. I figured I'd just get it to the house and gently heave it up 3 flights of steps, one way or another.
I drove home and parked out front, and after I managed to take the huge 70" X 35" box out and leaned it up against the stairwell...then out of the corner of my eye, I hear a "hey man, do ya need a hand with that?" I was suprized, this young dude, fairly well dressed walked over....I said, I think I can manage. He insisted, saying he could use the quick excersize - I said sure, we hauled it up the steps and then he took the whole box by himself, levered on his back and hauled it up the last hump, while explaining that he used to work as a professional mover before he joined the Army. It was a phenomenal feat and I was more than appreciative. Thank you Joe!
Settled in for an evening of preparing for work, paying a few bills and then embarked on assembling the desk - what a huge ass task - but it's finally done. I'll swap my current desk and arrange my 2 computers/monitors, et al tomorrow night.
I'll have time to post-blog in the next few days - of this past weekend. Not enough hours in the day.
Woke up tired and sore after the weekend, knee and back hurting after all the lifting and standing all day cooking over the weekend. Spent the day at work playing catchup and allowing time to do things while there was no drama, lotta people still off for the Holidays. Always highly productive when there's zero drama.
The weather had suprizingly warmed up to the low 50s (again tomorrow) - so after work I went on a very nice, albeit quiet training ride on the bike trail out past Leesburg to Peonean Springs and back, was a nice interlude of sweat, fog, wind, darkness, and sore knees. Saw about 15 deer - all loooked suprized, because it's been a while since I've been on the trail (been doing training rides in the 'burbs on a 5 mile loop when it's frigid out).
Finished up and stopped by Office Depot to check out a computer desk that I saw online, and was pleasantly greeted with the final search of my new computer desk. After little deliberation and much worry how I was going to get it home - I went ahead and had an impulse moment - just bought it (after I measured my car). But it was heavvvyyy (the box - it required assembly), and fragile - a black tempered glass desktop. I figured I'd just get it to the house and gently heave it up 3 flights of steps, one way or another.
I drove home and parked out front, and after I managed to take the huge 70" X 35" box out and leaned it up against the stairwell...then out of the corner of my eye, I hear a "hey man, do ya need a hand with that?" I was suprized, this young dude, fairly well dressed walked over....I said, I think I can manage. He insisted, saying he could use the quick excersize - I said sure, we hauled it up the steps and then he took the whole box by himself, levered on his back and hauled it up the last hump, while explaining that he used to work as a professional mover before he joined the Army. It was a phenomenal feat and I was more than appreciative. Thank you Joe!Settled in for an evening of preparing for work, paying a few bills and then embarked on assembling the desk - what a huge ass task - but it's finally done. I'll swap my current desk and arrange my 2 computers/monitors, et al tomorrow night.
I'll have time to post-blog in the next few days - of this past weekend. Not enough hours in the day.
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(Post-blogged Tuesday, 12/27/2005)
Woke up very tired and exhausted, back sore from standing all day yesterday while cooking for 8 hours. Marathon cookfest. I was greeted with my younger brother while he made me espresso on his new cold press espresso press (that I got him for xmess), and some breakfast - we had a few nice words and reminices before I packed up and had to head out. The drive home was completely uneventful, albeit long.
I finally got home in the early afternoon and unpacked my car and decided it was wayyyy too windy out for a training ride (strange hurricane force gusty winds), and headed out to do a few errands. Big mistake, trying to shop for a few things on the day after xmess. After a few errands, came home with a wall mount for my tv and dvd player in my studio office. Spent the evening catching up, unpacking and then finally installing the tv mount. My goal was to get my studio office finished before the new year. Just get it done, or in NASCAR language "Get 'er Done!"
Regardless, I had a wonderful Holiday weekend with my family, I spent the majority of the time cooking and laughing, telling stories, playing with my nephews, neices, brothers, their wives & my parents...
I'll update/post-blog soon, but in the meantime, here's a slideshow of my Christmas 2005 ----> (click, pops a new window)
Woke up very tired and exhausted, back sore from standing all day yesterday while cooking for 8 hours. Marathon cookfest. I was greeted with my younger brother while he made me espresso on his new cold press espresso press (that I got him for xmess), and some breakfast - we had a few nice words and reminices before I packed up and had to head out. The drive home was completely uneventful, albeit long.
I finally got home in the early afternoon and unpacked my car and decided it was wayyyy too windy out for a training ride (strange hurricane force gusty winds), and headed out to do a few errands. Big mistake, trying to shop for a few things on the day after xmess. After a few errands, came home with a wall mount for my tv and dvd player in my studio office. Spent the evening catching up, unpacking and then finally installing the tv mount. My goal was to get my studio office finished before the new year. Just get it done, or in NASCAR language "Get 'er Done!"
Regardless, I had a wonderful Holiday weekend with my family, I spent the majority of the time cooking and laughing, telling stories, playing with my nephews, neices, brothers, their wives & my parents...
I'll update/post-blog soon, but in the meantime, here's a slideshow of my Christmas 2005 ----> (click, pops a new window)
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(Christmas Day)
(Post-blogged Tuesday, 12/27/2005)
7:00am, exactly 7am. Excited children - all ready to head down the stairs ready to rip into the presents. I wish I had their enthusiasm, even before being jaded or before the need for a cup of coffee. But they had a year to think of this morning. So let them at it, but make sure mom has her videocam ready to capture their hongry eyes and dissappointment... Which is what usually transpires...I escaped into the kitchen to make some coffee and make provisions for breakfast as they ripped into all the presents like lions on a herd of gazelles...the hunt was like shooting fish in a barrel. I was brewing coffee and listening to the "why didn't santa know that I DIDN'T want the...blah blah blah...." "I really wanted the BLAH BLAH BLAH...why doesn't santa know this already? This sucks"......I went ahead and started on breakfast...it was gonna be a long day.
Coffee kicked in....a slow breakfast of adults while the kids played with new toys while we started to cook the Christmas dinner...huge undertaking. The stage was already set, my brother and his wife already had the Christmas tables set, complete with the best silver & crystal. We spent the entire morning and afternoon cooking everything under the sun. It was a lotta farkin fun. My parents came first, full of smiles and granparental skillset kicked in. Then my older brother and his family came in - a full house. We took a break in the kitchen to exchange and open a few gifts. It was a wild flurry of more children unwrapping gifts and the polite exchange of gifts between adults. Everyone loved all the presents. I fared out very well with a huge new professional chef knife set (20 knives), and a really nice Williams-Sonoma NYC Cookbook from my parents, my brothers and their families both got me these wonderful gift baskets comeplete with all sorts of dipping oils, cooking oils, sauces, spices, all cooking related. The funniest gift I got was from my parents - a yellow hard hat that says "FRANKENSCOTT" (to wear in the shower, so I don't have any more Xtreme Bathing accidents).
Went back to cooking with my sister in law and my brother, we finished in perfect timing for the formal sit down at 5pm. A prayer was made, a few toasts - then total silence as 22 people all shovelled food in their faces. More wine, more stories, more laughter and some photos. Dinner lasted a while, kids were excused, more rounds of desserts served. My parents and my older brother and family eventually hit the road as the remainining of us spent the next 3 hours washing dishes, and putting things away. It almost reminded me of that scene in the movie "The Big Chill", where people were all cooperating and dancing & drinking wine while cleaning up after a dinner party.
The evening wound down, kids put to bed, and we settled in for a cozy night of story telling and then we all went to bed utterly exhausted.
(Post-blogged Tuesday, 12/27/2005)
7:00am, exactly 7am. Excited children - all ready to head down the stairs ready to rip into the presents. I wish I had their enthusiasm, even before being jaded or before the need for a cup of coffee. But they had a year to think of this morning. So let them at it, but make sure mom has her videocam ready to capture their hongry eyes and dissappointment... Which is what usually transpires...I escaped into the kitchen to make some coffee and make provisions for breakfast as they ripped into all the presents like lions on a herd of gazelles...the hunt was like shooting fish in a barrel. I was brewing coffee and listening to the "why didn't santa know that I DIDN'T want the...blah blah blah...." "I really wanted the BLAH BLAH BLAH...why doesn't santa know this already? This sucks"......I went ahead and started on breakfast...it was gonna be a long day.
Coffee kicked in....a slow breakfast of adults while the kids played with new toys while we started to cook the Christmas dinner...huge undertaking. The stage was already set, my brother and his wife already had the Christmas tables set, complete with the best silver & crystal. We spent the entire morning and afternoon cooking everything under the sun. It was a lotta farkin fun. My parents came first, full of smiles and granparental skillset kicked in. Then my older brother and his family came in - a full house. We took a break in the kitchen to exchange and open a few gifts. It was a wild flurry of more children unwrapping gifts and the polite exchange of gifts between adults. Everyone loved all the presents. I fared out very well with a huge new professional chef knife set (20 knives), and a really nice Williams-Sonoma NYC Cookbook from my parents, my brothers and their families both got me these wonderful gift baskets comeplete with all sorts of dipping oils, cooking oils, sauces, spices, all cooking related. The funniest gift I got was from my parents - a yellow hard hat that says "FRANKENSCOTT" (to wear in the shower, so I don't have any more Xtreme Bathing accidents).
Went back to cooking with my sister in law and my brother, we finished in perfect timing for the formal sit down at 5pm. A prayer was made, a few toasts - then total silence as 22 people all shovelled food in their faces. More wine, more stories, more laughter and some photos. Dinner lasted a while, kids were excused, more rounds of desserts served. My parents and my older brother and family eventually hit the road as the remainining of us spent the next 3 hours washing dishes, and putting things away. It almost reminded me of that scene in the movie "The Big Chill", where people were all cooperating and dancing & drinking wine while cleaning up after a dinner party.
The evening wound down, kids put to bed, and we settled in for a cozy night of story telling and then we all went to bed utterly exhausted.
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(Under development, I'm bashful)