Saturday, November 29, 2008

Rocky's favorite part of Thanksgiving


Michelle brings Nino and DJ to play soccer with the dogs.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving from Alaska

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-kjM1asH-8

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Fortune Cookie Chronicles


I am fascinated by Jennifer 8. Lee's book, The Fortune Cookie Chronicles - the history of American-Chinese food.

I love the parts about the sophistication of "chop suey" restaurants in the 20's, the menu wars, the "Golden Venture" disaster, the nasty General Tso chicken, and of course, the mysterious attachment of American Jew to Chinese food.

Remember "Network"? "Jews know two things - Chinese food and suffering".

All this makes me think of my own personal history with Chinese food. It was a long time coming. I have dim memories of my Uncle Don (the educated member of my mother's family, he'd been to Bible College somewhere in the Midwest) telling us about a trip to a Chinese restartant. "They just kept bringing platters of pork and shrimp and vegetables," he said. My mother, with her nose in the air, "If you are willing to eat things like that".

Then there were the meals Suzanne and I shared in the dim recesses of the local Chinese restaurant in Rutherford. It had a generic name - maybe China Rose or something like that. The intimacy of passing the little metal teapot. The takeout iced tea and eggrolls in the hot Jersey nights.

The Yorks cooking Japanese food and guiding us through Chinese restaurants in New Jersey, New York, and London.

And the excitement of Szechuan and Hunan food in the late 70's. Sensations I had never imagined. The glory of HOT!

Not to mention "the you no like" phenomenon that tormented me in NYC's Chinatown in the early 80's. I DO LIKE chicken feet and sea cucumbers.

Maybe we should add the chicken who played tic-tac-toe in Chinatown for over 20 years. Yes, the same chicken. Birds are long lived unless you eat them.

But Jennifer really should add a chapter about Chinese restaurants in Alaska. How every town with a population greater than 400 has a Chinese restaurant. How they are all run by Koreans, and how they have only begun to offer Korean dishes in the last few years. About the practice in Bethel (western Alaska) of including fortune cookies with every order - including cheeseburger and fries.

Then there is the passion of Eskimos for sushi and sashimi- but that is a whole different story.

This book is much too short.

Monday, November 10, 2008

art and family in Charlotte NC


I spent Halloween weekend with my brother and his family in Charlotte. We did a lot of neat things, but my favorite was when they bought this great painting of the West Wall at the American Craft Show.A wonderful picture, and we really enjoyed meeting the artist.

the laughter continues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l8tbY5eLJU

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

election night in Alaska...

... is very strange. Most times the networks call the national races and go home before the polls close here. I always feel a little isolated, hanging out on the western edge of the nation, four hours behind eastern time. No one is ever waiting for our electoral votes.

We have important races going on here. Not Palin (I hope). But our lone congressman (who lost a race to a dead man in the 70's and has been in office since) may lose. Our 84 year old Senator Stevens, recently convicted on seven felony charges, may lose tonight, too. Or not. These are important races and we hope to have results tomorrow.

But I will be glad to go to bed after I hear Obama's acceptance speech.