Monday Morning Coming Down

When HJ77 left this morning at 6 am or something like that, I decided to stay up, watch the news (both WNYT (because I promised) and MSNBC) and I saw more about Amanda Knox then I wanted to, not because I do not care (not that I really do) or that it is not relevant (it is not) but that is all that people were talking about (that and #OccupyWallStreet which...well...later).

It was interesting, especially in a way that is totally disinteresting. She is, in all likelihood, headed back to Seattle. Justice has been served, no?

This weekend was a blast. HJ77 came in on Friday night, and I made a angel hair with a white sauce and meatball meal and we just relaxed and watched baseball, or at least until the rainout. My lack of sleep during the week had finally caught up with me, even while HJ77 was wired, and I had to crash, hard, like a Cessna flying to the Vineyard.

Saturday, we headed out to Oktoberfest at Wolff's Biergarten after a quick trip through the Troy Waterfront Farmer's Market. (Side note: When I want to wear a heavier jacket, even if it is a weather proof suede, I should not listen to other people (*cough*) when they say I should just go with a fleece jacket. Just sayin'.) It was very fun and it did get packed enough where my discomfort with crowds ended up getting the best of me prompting a quick exit...well, not that quick. We were there for three hours, largely hanging out with Teacher Dave. After Oktoberfest, we headed to McGeary's, which was much warmer, and had a couple of drinks, including McGeary's wonderful mulled cider.

We headed home and it was dinner time, as well as baseball time. (Surf and turf(aged and dry rubbed NY Strip steaks & Maine Lobster tails), with an extremely overcooked cauliflower risotto and fresh string beans sauteed in olive oil and Balsamic, for those following along at home.) A note on the baseball game. The name Fister will make me giggle. I am not going to apologize for it. It was a wonderful Saturday and wonderfully fun.

Sunday, because various plans fell apart, and because HJ77 was a little under the weather, we stayed it, watched sports and read, all the while I was doing a low and slow treatment on some Danish pork ribs. Now, let me lay some knowledge on you who don't do BBQ. Danish ribs are the small ones. They have lots of connective tissue and the meat is tough to get at. You have to do low and slow on them or you have now meat to eat. They also react well to being braised as part of the process, so that you can keep them moist. I made a dry rub where the flavor profile consisted of a dark chili powder as well as a Madras curry with some of the moisture for braising coming from an English Ale and some Balsamic (for both the acid as well as the sugar content). It was an experiment. I think they turned out well.

While we were noshing on the ribs, the various sporting events (The Yankees were losing, the Giants were losing, and the Patriots looked unstoppable.) required some light gambling. At the top of the ninth, I did bet HJ77 that the Yankees would come back, and they almost did. I did win my dollar back with my call that the Giants would come back against the Cardinals. You win some, you lose some...

As to what we were reading, HJ77 was reading The Leftovers while I was reading (and I am still reading) The Coming of the Third Reich. Reading this book, especially given the current situation, makes me uneasy, especially as I watch the news of the world, the national news, and think about the conversations that I have had with those who are actively intellectually incurious. There is a lot here to process, and a lot to rethink about the rise of National Socialism. At one point, I read a section to HJ77 and asked her to replace "National Socialism" with Tea Party and Germany with "The United States". She rightly pointed out that I was being unfair.

Anyway, that was my weekend...how was yours?