Tuesday - Music: My Aria-Pro II LP

For my first (belated) post on my instruments, I figured I'd write about my first real guitar. Now please, dear reader, keep in mind that, when I say 'real' guitar, I mean one of a quality that would not embarrass me to be seen playing on stage. And now, presenting....

Yes, there she is, basking in all the glory she gives off. Now most guitar companies, including Aria, put serial numbers on guitars for dating purposes. This particular gem does not have one, which according to Aria's website means that it comes from a period ranging from the late 70's to early 80's. For this reason, I like to pretend that she's a '77, because 1977 was such an awesome year. Think about it. Peter Gabriel I. The Clash's self titled debut. Pink Floyd's Animals. The Sex Pistols entire (and singular) discography. Either way, it's older than I am, and I think that is awesome.

It's a knockoff that I got with birthday and Xmas money when I was...17? I've had trouble with the wiring, several screws have gone missing, the paint is chipping, the pickup holders are cracked and I would not ever trade, sell or give it away. I've played countless guitars on store shelves and friends homes and keep coming back to this old girl. Something about the guitar you learn to play on. It's like getting a car, anytime you step back into your first car it's naught but memories. I've done the vast majority of my recording on this guitar, which might not mean anything to anybody but me, but I doubt much of this does anyway.

If this bored you, there's still 3 guitars, a bass, a keyboard and drums in excess coming your way.

bth

October

Right, October.

I'm coming.

Monday - Top Ten List: Top 10 Video Games of All Time

Today, a pretty simple list. It's the top ten video games that I have ever personally played. Obviously, this is a pretty objective list. I should also point out that it's very one sided. I have, at various points in time, owned every Nintendo console ever made. My PC gaming history is... limited, at best. The only other console I've ever owned is a PS2, so it sort of limits my experince with any Microsoft, Sega, Atari etc., you get the picture. I'd get really in depth with them but I'm worried aboutit becoming a behemoth entry. Also, I feel enough of a dork for simply posting this in the first place. Maybe tomorrow I'll save some face and showcase a guitar or two...

1. Tales of Symphonia - NGC
2. Donkey Kong Country - SNES
3. The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time - N64
4. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance - NGC
5. Super Mario World - SNES
6. Super Mario 64 - N64
7. Age of Empires 2 - PC
8. Final Fantasy VII - PlayStation
9. Metroid Prime - NGC
10. Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem - NGC

bth

Saturday - Viewer's Choice: Sarah's Indian Dinner

I hope she'll forgive me in advance, but this isn't going to be nearly as in-depth as it deserves to be. The other night, (Monday, I think...?) we invited our friends Laura and Brandon over for a dinner Sarah was making. She had felt a particular craving for Indian food and asked me if there was any dish I preferred. Not ever being one to turn down chicken tikka masala, I named that as the dish of choice. She said it would pair nicely with saag paneer and naan (Indian flatbread), so we set about the Strip District to shop. We then came home, and to work she got.

Seen here, the various ingredients that went into the dish. I can't be sure, but I think it's just canola oil, yoghurt, vinegar, tomato...paste(?), red pepper, garam masala, garlic-ginger paste and some wicked tandoori seasoning we found at Penzey's Spices in the strip. Essentially, these things were combined over some chunked chicken, which was then given over to me to grill. I'd post a picture of it grilling, but I don't want to steal thunder. Once it was all marinated, it looked as such:

At this point, she began making the saag paneer. To the uninformed, saag paneer is simply pureed spinach with some assorted spices and garlic which is mixed with paneer (a very mild Indian cheese). We had one slight mishap in which somebody may have overloaded the food processor with spinach which found its way to the counter in grand fashion, but we overcame and moved onward. The finished product looked a bit like this:

At this point, dinner was pretty much ready to go. This post has already gone past the attention of most blog surfers, so I'm cutting to the chase; dinner was absolutely fantastic. The best part about dating a girl who can cook is trying your hardest to make her happy, as this yields to only more wonderful eats. In closing, a summary in pictures of the finished product and the lovely cook herself.

bth

Tuesday - Music: (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

To those not in the know, I am a huge music geek. I'm that guy you know who can tell who is what band and what they played on each song of any given track. As such, I get the feeling that my music Tuesdays will be my favorite days. I'll take these days to profile not only albums or songs that I love, but also to spotlight my own instrument collection or give you tastes of my own musical output. My thought was, however, that since this is my first post on the subject I'd start by giving a rundown of the first album I ever owned.

No question, I'm a child of the 90's. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be the Dad that is constantly showering his kids with music from halcyon days, having no idea at all as to why they don't appreciate it, but I was not like that at all. In fact, until the age of about 12, the only thing I was ever seen listening to was whatever my Dad played for me. Though I still have a deep appreciation for music made before I was born, I would not be the person I am today had Oasis not been so determined to replace the Aerosmith t-shirts in my wardrobe.

My Dad bought me Morning Glory on a trip to a Coconuts music store, but only after making sure that there would be no foul language to affect me. I swore to him there was not. Logically, in my mind, there was no foul language in Wonderwall, so why should there be any elsewhere? We got into the car and put it in (Yeah, cds in the car in 1995, my Dad is pretty cool.), only to blow my father away with the line '...so wipe the shit from your shoes.' within the first minute of listening. He coyly ignored it, and I, fulfilling any cliched rock and roll youth stereotypes, was drawn in instantly. Because of that cataclysm alone, and even though I've since collected words with much more bite and profanity, it might be the single most vulgar lyric in my collection.

Every song on the record, from front to back, is something that fills me with nostalgia and something I don't have a word for. It's not sadness, but it's not happiness either. It's whatever makes ex-hippie bikers who have a total of $19.67 at a cash register say "Now that was a great year...". To me, it's not so much the sounds of my childhood, but what paved the way to what would make up said sounds. It makes me remember a time when a band could put out a song like 'Champagne Supernova' or 'Don't Look Back in Anger' and have them played on the radio in the middle of the day.

I'm the geek, I told you that. As such, I keep a running list of my top 20 albums of all time. Albums that, when played, are played one song at a time, front to back. Some come and go and many never come close to making the cut while still being fantastic, but this is one that has been in since 1995 and has never left. It might be for more sentiment than anything, but that's not to say it's got any fat to cut. I don't think my old man could have had any idea that we was spending 13 bucks that I would never personally forget. If he reads this, hats off, eh?

bth

Sunday - Sandbox: Cooking with Sarah

Today marks my first sandbox blog, in which I give myself no boundaries. Seeing as I missed my first chance for a viewers choice blog (and marking that I only have one reader so far, my lovely girlfriend, Sarah.), I'm going to combine this by blogging about something she keeps asking me to blog about; her.

More specifically, cooking with her. We have not, as of yet, made cooking a tandem activity. We more or less take turns cooking FOR each other, but there's always input from the other. For example, the other night I made her some stuffed peppers and split the recipe in half, one half made with barbecue sauce for me and the other half with ketchup for her. It came out good and we both loved it. A few nights later she returned the favor by making me a stromboli with customized ingredients. That, too, came out fantastically.

Every now and then we've found ways to collaborate on meals, and that's when it really gets to be cool for me. Not only do we find ways to make dishes work together, but we have a pretty good knack of finishing them at about the same time. The other night I started grilling some fish with butter and cilantro and making some broccoli. Around the halfway point of my cooking, Sarah walked in the door and began to make rice with some cilantro butter she had made. Right as the rice was done, the fish was done. Brilliance!

Maybe there's more I could write on it. There's a lot more I could write on it. I love cooking with her because it's so much more than simply making something to shove down and abate hunger. It's a social experience that gives me something to look forward to, and I certainly do.

If you'll pardon me, we're going grocery shopping so we can cook us some dinner.

Friday - Beer: Sterkens White Ale

For my first Friday beer post, I think it's only right to start with the best beer I've ever personally had. Now, mind you, I am by no means experienced enough to be considered a connoisseur or even a critic. I just know what I like, and I like to convey. Hell, I love to convey. I would also preface by saying that much of my opinion may stem from the fact that I was out to lunch with my Dad at the time for the first time in a good while. That may have affected the memory just a touch too.

We thus come to Sterkens White Ale. This is a Belgian ale, much in the style of a Blue Moon or the equivalent. It's got a great hint of orange peel and a touch of some spice(spices, maybe?) that I can't quite place, but thoroughly enjoy. The finish isn't the best I've had, but it's not so bad as to ruin the experience.

I won't be as pompous as to talk about the essences or the pouring qualities, it's just a great beer. I would go as far as to say that I can't imagine a sandwich that wouldn't pair with this brew, which is probably the reason I found it in a deli in the first place.

Speaking of finding it, one of the only things I really hate about it is how damn hard it is to find. Until around two months ago, the only place I had ever found it was in a German deli in a mall outside of Philadelphia. I had recently been able to find it in a store in Canton, Ohio, but as good as it is, it's not quite worth the drive in either direction. I am often surprised at the number of 'Burgh bars (Sharp Edge anyone?) that don't carry it, but I'm not to the point of giving up yet.

No summary needed, it's just fantastic. If you enjoy lighter beers or fruity beers, you should enjoy it. If you prefer them dark, I'd stay away.

bth