walkin' with Bill

Tonight I had a meeting at the school, I walked over from work (about 3 blocks). After the meeting was over, I was on my way back when I noticed that the guy walking across the street in front of me looked a lot like (former governor of Colorado) Bill Owens.

I wasn't sure if it was him, until I noticed one of the homeless dudes that is usually in that area staring at him, too. I caught the homeless dude's eye and mouthed, "Is that the governor?"

He responded, out loud (actually, he pretty much yelled), "Yeeeah!"

I wasn't sure whether to take a photo, or try talking to him... I decided to talk, and called out, "Governor!" -a photo of the back side of his head taken hastily from my camera phone would probably just be useless anyway, right?

He turned around, said hi, and asked if I was a student at the school.

I told him I was finishing up and would hopefully be teaching there soon.

He asked my name, shook my hand, and we started walking again. He said that he taught at DU occasionally, and asked what department at CU I was hoping to join. - Wait? are we having a conversation now?

I was not planning on this at all, and, while realizing that we were now walking together toward my office, I responded, "Architecture."

(A quick side note, here. Don't former Governors get a security staff? It's a little strange to me that this dude was walking down 14th street, with no one around except homeless guys and me.)

He wished me luck with the position, and I told him thanks, and then I blurted something about how I thought he was a good governor, and that I appreciated his bi-partisanship on issues, and that I thought it was really terrible what the former CU president did throwing him under the bus on the whole Churchill thing - What am I talking about?! Where was he walking?

"Ya, that whole thing...", he said. - Uh oh. Better change the subject. Where the heck is he going?- The notion that he might be headed, like me, to BWG Architects for the intermediate Spanish class flashed quickly through my mind.... Him: 'Hola! Me Llamo, Bill. Fue el Gobernador de Colorado. Y tu?' Me: "No, no fue un Gobernado. A Ti, te gustas gatos negros?"

We were almost at my office when I remembered that I needed to move my car because of the hockey game at the Pepsi Center tonight. -Ohh... Ok, that's probably it... - "Are you headed to the game?"

"Ya, I'm meeting some people there."

"Cool. Hope you have good seats..."

"Thanks. Good luck again, Scott."

I left him at the corner and went into the building to get my keys. I felt kind of dumb for that last comment. Of course he had good seats. He was a governor. He was considered as McCain's running mate. He's still on the news, well at least Fox News, all the time. He probably had a suite. - Then again, he didn't even have a ride to the game. Dude's friends made him take the 16th street mall shuttle and then hoof it alone the rest of the way. That's pretty weak.


Ok, so I have to say, I came away really liking him. He didn't seem bothered to talk to me, which is odd, since I basically yelled at him to get his attention. He did ask me if I voted for him, though. (I didn't... we moved here after he was elected for his final term.) But he genuinely seemed pretty humble . When I told him that thought he was pretty good, he said (really sincerely) that he was just thankful that people gave him a chance. That may be a prepared response, but at least its the right one.

let's take a peek inside the glutton hut

While few who have seen my sculpted physique would expect it, I am, in fact, a big fan of tasty food.

To share my epicurean inclination, I've been planning a new segment for this much-lauded beacon of adequacity. In each segment, I'll share one of the many saucy secrets my adventurous stomach has unearthed during my lifelong trek along the hungry highway. I'll try to mix in some recipes, but mostly this will be the better type of food: the type someone else makes for you while you sit there and . Hopefully, this will inspire you to put something new on your plate.

Before I get to our first entry, let me just put out a little plea. I'm not so sure about this segment name. What do you think? Do you have a suggestion to replace it? Let me know.

Ok, so let's start off slow. Kristie and I were looking to try something new in the kitchen last night. While we were shopping, I saw some wonton wrappers, so we decided to give em' a go. Here is the end result:



There was a bit of a learning curve, and we'll do a little tweaking with the filling next time, but all-in-all it was pretty tasty. One package makes 60 of these, so you should do one of the following in advance of making them.

1. Invite people to a party.
2. Invite yourself to someone else's party.
3. Have lots of kids.
4. Be super fat and at least a little hungry.
5. Enter a Bring-Your-Own Wonton eating competition.
6. Have a plastic bag to put leftover wrappers in, so you don't have to make them all at once.
7. Be really bad at folding won tons so you end up wasting a lot of them.

We went with #6, with a bit of #7. (No, not #4, jerk-faces.) To cook em' we pretty much just followed the directions on the package. You should do that.

Here is the recipe for the filling that I used.

1/2 lb Lean Ground Beef (we used really lean 4% and it was still good)
1 tsp Cornstarch
1 tsp Salt
1 tbs Mirin (white wine works, too)
1 tsp Sesame Oil
1/4 C Green Onion (finely chopped)
Dash white pepper
A couple shakes of ground ginger

Basically, just mix all this togehter in a bowl, and then dab out about a TBS in the middle of each wrapper. Fold them in half, and then pinch the wrappers closed.

I think it would have been better with a some finely chopped cabbage. We'll try that next time.

Here are a few more pictures. we made up some rice, and drizzled chili dim sum dipping sauce over the wontons.... mmmm.

its too late baby now its too late...

...cause I just bought "Stanley" for me. I am so excited to get it, you have no idea. I chatted with Adam (the artist), and he has a few pieces that he is going to get up, soon. I'll link to em' when they go up. Dude is ridiculously talented, so you will want to check in.

(Also, thanks again, Adam.)

Stuff you should know about stuff that is awesome

This one is short and simple.

If you have kids, and you like them. You should get these paintings.
If you don't have kids, and are cool, you should get there paintings.
If you have kids, and want them to think you got art for them, but its really for you, you should get these paintings.

Because these are awesome. I just saw them like 5 minutes ago, and I'm not so sure I don't want em' for myself. I don't have kids, but I am awesome.

Here is the link:

xadamdx.blogspot.com

Seriously, these will not last... you do love your kids, right?

PS: This is truly awesome stuff.

Stressed at work?

I have been a bit stressed about it lately, with all the upheaval in the economy, but I think I've found the solution...

Ya, that's right... I'm wearing the snuggie to work.