London calling.
It’s been a GREAT day, so I’m not sure why REM’s “Bad Day” keeps running through my mind…
My Dad’s operation is over, and he made it through spectacularly. The triple bypass went so well, in fact, that they didn’t even put him in intensive care, afterwards. He looks great (everyone was prepping me for how bad he would look). This is a giant weight off my mind.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU everyone who sent in best wishes. They appear to have been answered in spades!
I’m so glad I’m here. I feel like I’m helping, which is good. I made dinner for my mom and sister last night. My sister said it was the first home-cooked meal they’ve had in ages, what with trips to the hospital and everything.
Feeling so good, I splurged and FINALLY picked up the Franz Ferdinand album off of the iTunes Music Store. Anybody know a good place in London to find the “Band of Brothers” DVD set? I’d like to get that for my dad, as a present.
(By the way, as far as REM songs go, “Animal” (a double-A-side with “Bad Day,” I believe) rocks all kind of ass…it’s song #2 on my Songs for Swinging Muskrats mix, Vol. IV).
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Here’s what I made last night: it’s quick and easy (based on my favorite basic Marinara recipe), and quite tasty.
LINGUINE CON OLIVA
2 pounds skinned, seeded and diced plum tomatoes (canned tomatoes work fine – use the liquid in the cans as well)
1/2 cup olive oil
4-8 large cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup (packed tightly) finely chopped fresh parsley OR 1/4 cup (packed loosely) dried parsley
1/2 cup chopped, pitted green olives
* Saute the garlic in the olive oil over medium heat until the first pieces just start to brown.
* Add the parsley and saute for two more minutes.
* Add the tomatoes and olives, and simmer for 1-2 hours, stirring, cooking the sauce down slightly as to give it a thicker consistency. Turn off heat. Let stand for another hour.
And that’s all there is to it! This is a good sauce for spaghetti, linguine or fettucine. It’s also a tasty one to throw some mussels into.
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My sucky spell-checker does not have the word “Fettucini” in it. It suggests, as an alternative, “Feminine”
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Raining lots in London.
No? REALLY? London, you say?
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If there’s a Dork Tower family and friends get-together next week (we’ll see how my dad’s doing), I think it will be at The Old Thameside Inn
Old Thameside Inn
A large pub with a lengthy terrace taking advantage of fine river views over the Thames, this Nicholson’s pub does the chain credit. Far enough from Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre to discourage most tourists, it serves well kept beer and a reasonable selection of pubbe grubbe. The views are probably the best things to recommend this pub, and it’s a good place to stop if you’re walking along the river.
location:
Southwark
address:
Pickfords Wharf
SE1 9DG
phone:
020 7403 4243
clientele:
tourists / locals
nearest tube(s):
London Bridge
directions:
Leave London Bridge station and head towards the bridge. go down to the riverside walkway (Thames Path) and head upriver past Southwark Cathedral. When you see the replica of the Golden Hind, you should also see the pub next to it on the left.
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One of my favorite people in the world, pirate_wench_6 has just joined Live Journal. She’s the Dark Goddess of the Army of Dorkness, and met up with me at O’Hare the night I flew out. It was a strange sight for many, I’m sure, Sonia and me, sitting at the bar at Terminal 5, playing WizKids’ spiffy new Pirates of the Spanish Main game on one of the bar tables…
The game was designed by my pal James Ernest, BTW. It’s reassuring to see that mine isn’t the only name WizKids can misspell…
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Does anyone know if it’s possible to ADD online radio stations to iTunes’ “Radio” feature?
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I had a dream about working on Dork Tower 29 last night. SO I’d better get going…
Peas, out,