Open Threads

The rehearsal dinner was pretty decent. The salad was a pretty decent caesar salad, which proved to be entertaining, as some of the guests could not identify the mysterious flavor in their dressing. The hotel made a real caesar dressing with anchovy, which I assume most people arent used to having most of the time.

The main course was grilled sea bass presented on a ortion of garlic mashed potatoes, garnished with a sprig of dill and pickled ginger and an asparagus presentation. Sea bass was alright but a touch dry, asparagus was crips and flavorful, mashed potatoes were dry and could have used some more butter and heavy cream.

Finally, the dessert was a chocolate ganache with raspberries and a raspberry topping. The ganache was decent but the crust was hard- pretty clearly these had been sitting a while.

Overall, it was pretty good, and everyone enjoyed it. The funny thing is the hotel really did not know what they are dealing with, because the groom is a gourment cook himself, and there really is no way that they could live up to his standards for his own personal cooking. In fact, I have had almost every dish above cooked by the groom, and it is only because I know he can do a much better job cooking all of the items himself that I would ever even publicly state anything negative about the rehearsal dinner.

I am finding that a lot, now. I don’t think I have ever had a meal in a restaurant that has been better than anything my dad has evercooked, and I know that when I eat at the aforementioned groom’s house, the meal will probably be the best dinner I have in months. Restaurants just can’t compete with someone who enjoys cooking and enjoys cooking for other people.

Wedding Blogging, Cont.Post + Comments (2)

Arrived at the Sheraton Ritthenhouse Square in Philadelphia without any help tot the directions from the hotel’s website.

Folks- if you have a website to help your customers, a little advice. Make sure the information you are providing is up to date, and thus, HELPFUL.

At any rate, we found the hotel, no thanks to the Sheraton folks, and then drove around the building twice trying to find the valet. He finally showed up, so we went in and checked in.

The Sheraton at Ritthenhouse Square bills itself as an ‘Environmental Hotel.’ How do I know? Because it says so on everything, to include the cityh maps of Philadelphia.

I must admit that as a West Virginia rube, I am not sure what an ‘Environmental Hotel’ is, but after showering I am beginning to suspect it is a euphemism for crappy water pressure. They want me to re-use my towels, too, which I have no problem with whatsoever. I hope their attitude towards the bed linens is a little different, and those change from customer to customer. I will approach the bed with caution and let you know later.

Oh yeah- you can’t smoke anywhere, either, so I guess ‘Environmental Hotels’ are much like the city of New York. I know I have gained weight in the past few years, but I never considered myself big enough that my lungs were an environment of their own until now.

I have no problem foregoing small luxuries and even undertaking small hardships if it will help the environment in the long haul. However, it seems to me this is a really shitty bit of marketing for the environmental movement. Unless I am right, and ‘environmental’ really is code for inconvenient.

*** Update ***

Don’t let my pissy post fool you. The hotel is quite nice- not the best hotel I have ever been in, but the rooms are enormous and the bed may be one the most comfortable I have ever slept in outside of the Westin in Pittsburgh, which has the best beds in the world. Since I have been here, the place has grown on me, and it has free wireless, is located in the heart of the ritzy area of Philly (assuring no accidental contact with Atrios or his type), an I have since learned that the water pressure sucked because I was taking a shower at a popular time.

I am also no longer steaming at the crappy directions or the lazy valet, so I am more open-minded.

“Environmental” HotelPost + Comments (9)

I haven’t been blogging much lately, but I today should be a blogging extravaganza. I have the laptop next to the couch in front of the widescreen, and I intend to blog, eat, and watch football for 15 hours. Yeehaw! NFL for eight hours and then the Backyard Brawl, the annual grudge match between WVU and Pittsburgh. Go Eers!

At any rate, Happy Thanksgiving, and if you want to read an interesting story about immigrants and Thanksgiving, check this piece in the NY Times:

The desire to celebrate Thanksgiving was so strong for Leticia Maravilla, a Mexican immigrant, that she roasted her first turkey before she had her green card, struggling through a newspaper recipe in English.

“I wanted to do it the same way Americans did it,” she said, speaking from Los Angeles though an interpreter.

Ms. Maravilla ended up with the most American of problems. The breast meat was bone dry. Now, with several Thanksgivings under her belt, she has the culinary conundrum solved. Ms. Maravilla will simmer her turkey on the stove with garlic and onions before she roasts it, a little tip from her mother in Mexico City.

Thanksgiving, which began as a party for immigrants, remains the most accessible American holiday for many newcomers. It requires no specific religious or political allegiance. Even if an immigrant is from a culture where whole roast turkey is never on the menu – and that is nearly everywhere except North America – most are willing to give it a try.

Remember to be thankful and grateful today, and a special thanks to our heroes in combat overseas, but also remember how lucky we are to live in this country. We have our problems and our mistakes, but despite what the naysayers at home and abroad want us to believe, we are the greatest nation on earth. Just ask our newest citizens.

Happy ThanksgivingPost + Comments (2)

Tragedy in the Cole household this week- my beloved 1983 Chevy Celbrity finally died. I had planned on driving this car for another 5-10 years, but either the head gasket is destroyed or the head is cracked, and it just isn’t worth putting a new engine in the car. Another expense I did not want to deal with.

Joy.

TragedyPost + Comments (7)

Jeff Jarvis circulates this pledge:

The Post-Election Peace Pledge

: I take this pledge (inspired by a few of the posts below below):

After the election results are in, I promise to:
: Support the President, even if I didn’t vote for him.
: Criticize the President, even if I did vote for him.
: Uphold standards of civilized discourse in blogs and in media while pushing both to be better.
: Unite as a nation, putting country over party, even as we work together to make America better.

Of course I will support the President- we are at war. You needed to circulate this to some Democrats about 3 years ago. And try getting them to sign it if Bush wins today.

Post-Election PledgePost + Comments (20)

Plenty of blogad spaces available, and I will give a free week to anyone who purchases a month in the premium spot. Or you could just tip here, and make Sullivan jealous.

BlogadsPost + Comments

I am sick as a dog. Sore throat, headache, and that over-all body ache that makes it hurt to move.

Blech.

Shitty DayPost + Comments (13)