holiday holiday holiday holiday holiday

Today kicks off kt's

SOuThWestErN TOuR

Tour Dates
Friday, September 1st: Bluewater, New Mexico
Monday, September 4th: Mesa, Arizona
Thursday, September 7th: Provo, Utah
Saturday, September 9th: Rexburg, Idaho Cancelled
Sunday, September 10th: NOR*CAL - tour ends!!

My quest for cultural literacy #1

My favorite pasttime is to seek out books, music, and knowledge that give me cultural literacy.
Cultural literacy is what I call building and recognizing reference points in social culture. This means being able to talk about music, literature, history, art, and movies with others as a point of reference (but also as a main topic of conversation).

While my efforts are broad and ongoing, I'm thinking generally today about my quest in regards to music.

Music

This is generally grouped into three separate efforts. I love to meet people with a strong suit in one of these areas, so that I can learn from them. I would consider #2 my strongest area and #1 my weakest.

1. Classical - I have not studied classical music nor music theory. My efforts thus far have been to try to learn and appreciate classical music. Pieces I enjoy so far are Massenet's Méditation from Thaïs, Fauré's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in A, Op. 13: IV Allegro quasi presto, and Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, Op. 18: II Adagio sostenuto. But I admit I still fall asleep at the symphony.
2. Popular - Popular music as began in the 20th century. Rock and Roll, Punk, and Rhythm and Blues. I grew up with the Beatles, Buddy Holly, James Taylor, Carol King, et al., but my efforts here have been more in regards to Punk (The Pixies, The Clash, et al.) and some of the music I did not grow up with (Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, et al.) I also just like to be familiar with commonly known artists such as U2, Neil Diamond, Queen, and The Cure.
3. Current - I like to know what music is new and to be familiar with the genre, etc. even if I do not like it. I won't list any examples here because music can quickly transfer out of this section to #2 ... I can't claim to be a leader in this movement or even to be a hipster, but I like to have them as my friends :)

Currently Listening to

Classical --> Romantic Period (Rachmaninov, Liszt, Chopin)

Popular --> The Pixies, Johnny Cash, The Ramones

Current --> Wolfmother, Snow Patrol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Note: A huge part of this effort is even just learning about what's OUT there. Another reason why I love to meet people with a strong knowledge base. They can direct me to areas I am weak in so at the very least I know what seek out.

blogs blogs blogs blogs blogs

These are the blogs I have bookmarked and read as often as they are updated...
By people I know:

NieNie Dialogues
My cousin's wife blogs with incredible style. It helps me keep on her delectable children.

FOMO: Fear of Missing Out
One of my good friends who recently moved to LA. Reading her blog is liking having a great discussion with a girlfriend.

The Milestones
My cousin (recently engaged!) who is a chef and a romantic.

Whit's Wit
My Boston BFF.

By people I DO NOT know:

Oh Happy Day
Seriously the greatest discovery for me. I found Jordan's blog off of the New Awesome and she posts daily on pretty things she finds. I love to explore the archives for ideas. She lives in San Francisco, so it sometimes includes local things.

The New Awesome
Friends of friends. Mostly silly, but entirely awesome.

Design Mom
Found this one through Oh Happy Day - has a very similar style.

Urbanista
NYC guide to living by urban fashionistas. I found this one in a random news article and rumor has it it was founded by John Kerry's daughter and her friend who works for Vanity Fair. It's pretty thorough.

People I wish would write MORE OFTEN:

Blogs written by anyone in my immediate family. You know who you are.

The Life Aquatic

My immediate family and I recently bought almost the entire inventory from Cleanflicks' liquidation sale and so my brother Gordon and I watched The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou on Saturday.

I love Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic retains the same terse colors and dry dialogue. It is raw and roughly poignant, and it had some interesting cultural tributes that I particularly appreciated.

My brother pointed out the Moby Dick / Captain Ahab references, but the one that kept coming to mind was the truly great Jacques Cousteau.

I have vivid memories of the oceanography unit we did in my ELP class in elementary school. (I wrote a report on starfish. One of our projects entailed landscaping an ocean in a shoe box and then mapping its depths. We rode a bus to San Diego to go to Sea World.)

While the movie doesn't directly remind me of these events, it's still a compelling sketch - told with all of the odd quirks of personality that make the viewer connect to the characters.

You can listen to a clip of my favorite song from the movie here and you can check out the full recording sessions of the David Bowie tributes here.

books books books books books

When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes.
Desiderius Erasmus

Current Reads:

Life of Pi
Confederacy of Dunces
Preach My Gospel
The Mayor of Casterbridge

When I read a book I to read it with my eyes only, but now and then I come across a passage, perhaps only a phrase, which has a meaning for me, and it becomes part of me.
W. Somerset Maugham

The Melville House

Here in California, There are many things I love about my house.

First of all, it's a hundred years old and it's full of crown moulding, hardwood floors, white walls, and sunlight. It's shaded and surrounded by trees and all other sorts of greenery. There are lovely doors, diamond-paned windows, and little details I find charming.

In the Living Room, we have a living work of art. We could (and often do) sit here all day simply looking outside.

Even before you step into the Dining Room, you can see our china cupboard:

Throughout the room there is simple wainscoting and beautiful garden wallpaper.

We have a moderately sized solid wood round table right by the window. My next project is recovering them in a delightful stripe. The table and chairs are a highly prized find from craigslist. Black finish with wide North Carolina chairs. I love sitting there in the morning.

The Mud Room exits out the back but also gives access to the laundry and powder rooms as well as a half sink.

The kitchen is perhaps my favorite room in that we have bright red dishtowels, light blue tiled counters, colorful bowls, and spices shelved throughout. I have some great tin canisters in bright colors (orange/yellow and green/blue) as well as my beloved toaster and food scale.

Also making the kitchen a colorful and cheerful place is my magnet collection.

But perhap my most favorite thing about the kitchen are the lizards that greet me as I come through the doorway.

Quiet Night Thoughts

Before my bed
There is bright-lit moonlight
So that it seems
Like frost upon the ground;

Lifting my head
I gaze at the bright moon
Lowering my head
I dream of home

-Li Bai

Tonight is the last night I will have my corporate apartment in Chicago. Above is the view of the sunset from my floor-to-ceiling windows on the 42nd floor.

It is lovely, but all I can think about is ...

...California!

Chicago is a Horn of Plenty of GOOD FOOD

Let me tell you. This last weekend was all about the eats. And so is this post.

For those of you who don't know, a Horn of Plenty is more properly known as a Cornucopia. And what I'm here to tell you is that, as far as plenty of food goes, Chicago definitely brings it to the table.

THURSDAY

The Wheels rolled in around 5:30pm and we all got settled in my apartment for a few hours before heading to Rush Street - a few blocks north of my apartment and full of chic stores & restaurants - for dinner.

We ended up at The Tavern on Rush. We were immediately seated and immediately, Whitney and I noticed the Crab and Artichoke dip on the appetizer menu. That's an immediate immediate. I simply pointed at the menu and we both got a little giddy.

The Appetizers

It did take some hemming and hawing, as we were all a little shy - but we were excited to discover that we all wanted appetizers. And more than one dish of them. We got soy-ginger potstickers and the highly desirable crab and artichoke dip. When our waiters announced the specials, we recklessly ordered a third: oysters.

In summary:
- POT STICKERS A Half Dozen Crispy Pork Filled Dumplings with Soy-Ginger and Hot Chili Oil Dipping Sauces
- HOT ARTICHOKE AND CRAB DIP Hot, Creamy Crab, Artichoke and Dill, Served with Rustic Toast
- OYSTERS

Now, it should here be stated that while the rest of the meal was also good, the appetizers were exceptional. Okay, now that I've set your expectations, we'll move on....

The Entrees

Whitney
SHELLFISH LOUIE SALAD
Lobster, Crab and Shrimp Louie, Chopped Egg, Tomato, Avocado and Classic Louie Dressing

Karren (<--- not pictured)
SEAFOOD JAMBALAYA
Zesty Creole Tomato Rice, with Shrimp, Mussels, Scallops and Andouille Sausage

Cam
BABY BACK RIBS
Char-Grilled Tender Full Slab in Our Own Tavern Barbecue Sauce

Whitney's was compact, beautiful, and tasty. Mine was spicy and had absolutely delicious scallops. Cam's inspired us all with significant awe. I stole these pictures from Whitney's blog (thanks, Whit!) Cam's ribs were reminiscent of the opening sequence for The Flintstones, and Fred has his meat delivered to him at the Drive In. Literally like this. But with a more elegant presentation.

And then ...

The Dessert

Never fear; regardless of our ability (or inability) to finish our entrees, we made it a priority to order dessert. In this instance, we agreed to share a single order. It was a difficult decision, but we finally settled on the Mocha Mud Pie (Mocha Ice Cream with Oreos and Pecans,Topped with Chocolate and Caramel Sauces on an Oreo Cookie Crust). I should probably add here that the piece of pie was about the size of my head. No joke. It was substantially larger than a pint of Ben & Jerry's. Fab.

FRIDAY

Yes, that is a giant Hershey's Peanut Butter Cup.

Yes, I hugged him upon sight.

We (Bruce and I) were at the Hershey's Flagship Store in Chicago where you can buy coconut hershey's kisses, reese's pieces chocolate cookies, and chocolate dipped almond joys. We bought none of these things, because we were saving ourselves for the Chocolate Buffet at the Peninsula Hotel on Saturday night. (This was merely Friday afternoon).

They call it CHOCOLATE AT THE PEN

Which brings me to...

SATURDAY

So, Saturday was key because we started out the day with Lou Mitchell's. Lou Mitchell's is just the best place for breakfast in Chicago. If you end up in Chicago, be sure to hit up 565 West Jackson (the line goes fast) to get your french toast, malted waffle, or the apple & cheddar omelette.

Regardless of what you order, they will give the ladies some milk duds, they'll give everyone an orange & a prune, and after your breakfast, you get a little dessert :)

This was the first meal we were all united, and as usual, our meals were eaten United Order style:

Bruce --> Apple & Cheddar Omelette
Whitney --> Malted Waffle with blueberries & whipped cream
Cam --> Denver Omelette
Karren --> French Toast

I'm sorry to say I don't have pictures for you - you'll just have to go experience it for yourself :D

Now, to get back to the Chocolate...

We all went back to the apartment and got all dolled up for the Chocolate Buffet.

We then all walked over to "Chocolate at the Pen" (Pen is short for the Peninsula Hotel). In case you're not familiar with it, it's a pretty posh place. The Chocolate Buffet is in their Lobby. They dim the lights, they bring out live jazz, and basically, it's an evening of indulgence. Superb.

My friend Brian joined us, even though he had just gotten back from London (by way of Indiana). He couldn't resist the lure of chocolate.

So, we all loaded up our plates with small chocolates, mousses, cookies, cakes, chocolate dipped strawberries - you name it. You can order Godiva chocolate martinis, but we opted for the White Hot Chocolate instead. Lucky for you, we documented our exquisite satisfaction so that you will realize how key this experience is for any Chicago visit:

Here is Bruce indulging in a chocolate-dipped Strawberry.

Here is Karren anticipating another fantastic sip of WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE.

And here is Brian stuffing his face with a petite chocolate mousse & pastry cake.

Here we see Cam intently drinking his chocolate mousse. (He ultimately ate it with a spoon)

And, of course, Whitney - who enjoyed her strawberry to such a degree that it was impossible to capture it

Where's my Babel Fish?

Huzzah for cultural literacy!

I just finished reading Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and now feel incredibly enlightened as to the origins of the babel fish. Although learning about them does give more context to this site that I have been using for the last 8 years, I've decided that it's more entertaining when aliens don't have them ... as in this classic:

"We are shaped and fashioned..."

"... by what we love." - Goethe

What do we spend our time thinking about, dreaming about, and planning? The things that we love do indeed shape us. They drive our thoughts and our actions. They are our highest priorities. We sacrifice for them.

There are many beautiful things to love. The world around us, the work that we do, culture and art, nature, friends and family. It is important to recognize that the things that occupy our energies and our happiness - even the smallest pleasures - influence us and change us. Do we consider this when we make choices about our friendships, our daily tasks, as well as the media that we consume? Do we strive to learn to love good and edifying things?

We do not only give our heart to the things that we love - we give our entire lives and our eternal progression. Consider now what you are literally devoted to. These are our idols and our gods. If we love the Lord, we will be fashioned like Him. It may not come easily to love things that are good, but the greatest gift we have is our moral choice - we can change our tastes and preferences. We can change our hearts. We can change what we love if we ask the Lord to help us. He will "give [us] another heart" (1 Samuel 10:9).

"If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." - 13th Article of Faith

Dad's Life Lessons

Santa Cruz - Part 1

Marianne's Ice Cream

So my little brother Stuart decided to fly in on the weekend of July 15th - the same weekend I had plans to go to LA. I was able to take the day off (last minute) so that he and I could spend all day Friday together.

For those of you who don't know, Stuart and I were only one grade apart in high school and so we have lots of great memories together from high school. We shared all of the same LDS friends, and many of them lived just over the hill at "Summit" - on the way to Santa Cruz. Thus, we would often spend our weekends and our summers at the beach, at the boardwalk, and over the hill.

So when Stuart and I were contemplating what to do on Friday, we almost immediately agreed that going to ~Santa Cruz~ would be a perfect activity. We would ride the Giant Dipper and we would eat ice cream at Marianne's

I picked Stu up in Los Gatos around 10am and we drove quickly and speedily down 17 to Santa Cruz.

And so we approached our First Stop: Marianne's Fine Ice Creams
(Yes, it was only about 10:30am and no, we had no qualms eating ice cream that early.)

So, Marianne's has somewhere around ~~50 ice cream flavors~~ available for selection. Yum! While ginger is my personal favorite, Stu and I agreed that we would each get two scoops to share so that we could try a total of 4 delightful flavors!

Here's what we chose:

Stu: Cinnamon Caramel (immediately, Stu wanted this one)

Karren: German Chocolate (because we needed more chocolate)

Consensus: Cinnamon Caramel exceeded our highest expectations. You can buy it and try it at The Milk Pail Market in Mountain View. German Chocolate though delicious was way too rich. We couldn't finish it.

Stu: Lemon Custard (Stu loves anything with custard)

Karren: Banana Almond Fudge (very similar to Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey)

Consensus: Lemon Custard was very rich, very sweet, but good. However, Banana Almond Fudge was superior.

Here is Stuart enjoying his ice cream with great satisfaction:

Here is Karren anticipating with great delight her next bite of ice cream:

And here is our Consensus: Success. Stay tuned for our next adventure.

"Considerate la vostra semenza: fatti non foste viver come bruti, ma per seguir virtute e canoscenza." - Dante

Consider your birthright:
You are not made to live like brutes,
but to pursue virtue and knowledge.

Consider your birthright
I love that we are told to go back to the beginning. Remember your origin. Think about who you are. Consider your birthright. When we go back to our roots - consider not only where our family came from - the sacrifice, the survival - but also consider where mankind comes from - it is a serious thing. Suddenly, it seems bigger than the details that fill up my day: I forgot my cell phone, work is stressing me out, I like pink, and that apple was delicious. They are the details of my life, but consider where you come from.

You are not made to live like brutes..
What is it to be a brute? Or rather, what is it to live like a brute? Brutes do not think about others or anything beyond their own whims, assumptions, and desires. They are ruthless, they are cynical, they are harsh and they are shortsighted.

But to pursue virtue and knowledge
Something interesting I noticed is that the distinction here is not between living like brutes and living like saints. It's between living like brutes and pursuing virtue and knowledge. TO PURSUE. That is such a strong verb. It is dogged, it is persistent, it is full of ambition. I am also impressed by the combination of virtue and knowledge. Virtue is often slated as something the ignorant cling to because of tradition, because of conspirators, or other weak reliances/inhibitions; however, virtue leads to wisdom, it leads to understanding, it leads to progress, and it leads to deep happiness. It avoids much of unnecessary evils of life and it is cautious in exposing itself to danger. It is not enough to simply seek knowledge and not act with it. Nor is it enough to simply seek virtue. To blindly follow a virtuous path is to run on a path and never look up to see the destination, the changing scenery, the beauty of reality around us - we can trip unnecessarily, we call what should be an edifying and energizing experience something painful and requiring great sacrifice. No, virtue should not be painful - it requires sacrificing something minimal for something beautiful. However, to be motionless in study, observation, and even wonder is an equal tragedy. Virtue is action - knowledge is understanding. The two must be pursued together.

If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life. ~Oscar Wilde

I've been trying to figure out exactly what this quote means. Oscar Wilde alternates between the profound and the incisive, so it's hard to judge solely by author. My brother thought it quite humorous, and yet I find it quite bittersweet.

I guess what I find rather pathetic is the thought of the things one will do when told what one wants to hear. Or the lengths one will go to to believe it, even when the rationale for trust is gone. Whether it is devotion or delusion, it's just rather sad.

Breathes there the man with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned,
As home his footsteps he hath turned,
From wandering on a foreign strand!
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no Minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;
Despite these titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch concentered all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung.
Unwept, unhonored, and unsung.

- Sir Walter Scott

Enthusiasm, Gratitude, and Smiling

I read this quote today:

"My husband and I took our grandson to lunch for his fourth birthday. After lunch, we buckled him in the backseat for the drive home. In the front seat, we began to discuss the schedule of the day, but I heard this four-year-old talking to himself. He was saying over and over, "I am such a lucky boy. I am such a lucky boy." He was expressing his joy to anyone who would listen." ( Living Happily Ever After - Coleen K. Menlove)

I loved this story! First of all, I love that the child was so pleased and grateful for his birthday excursion. But secondly, I love that he was murmuring it to himself over and over again - so that he would not forget it. He wanted to savor his happiness - hold onto it - relish it.

It is so easy to focus on our sources of discontent - that we may remove them, improve, progress, and make great changes. However, we should express our joy - savor it - in the wonderful experiences and blessings we enjoy. We should smile and laugh and love the wonderful and beautiful things, experiences, and people that we know in life!

"Nothing discernable to the eye of the spirit is more brilliant or obscure than man..."

"... nothing is more formidible, complex, mysterious, and infinite. There is a prospect greater than the sea, and it is the sky; there is a prospect greater than the sky, and it is the human soul." (Victor Hugo: Les Miserables)

"A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other. A solemn consideration, when I enter a great city by night, that every one of those darkly clustered houses encloses its own secret; that every room in every one of them encloses its own secret; that every beating heart in the hundreds of thousands of breasts there, is, in some of its imaginings, a secret to the heart nearest it! Something of the awfulness, even of Death itself, is referable to this. No more can I turn the leaves of this dear book that I loved, and vainly hope in time to read it all. No more can I look into the depths of this unfathomable water, wherein, as momentary lights glanced into it, I have had glimpses of buried treasure and other things submerged. It was appointed that the book should shut with a spring, for ever and for ever, when I had read but a page. It was appointed that the water should be locked in an eternal frost, when the light was playing on its surface, and I stood in ignorance on the shore. My friend is dead, my neighbour is dead, my love, the darling of my soul, is dead; it is the inexorable consolidation and perpetuation of the secret that was always in that individuality, and which I shall carry in mine to my life's end. In any of the burial-places of this city through which I pass, is there a sleeper more inscrutable than its busy inhabitants are, in their innermost personality, to me, or than I am to them?" (Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities)

On momentum, direction, and constraints

"Their paths diverged as they flew... Some of them forgot they were weightless and let go of the wall... Now they drifted lazily in many directions, waving their arms, trying to swim...Everything depends on how you push off, the course you set when you start. It means we're going to have to get very good at controlling our launches and rebounds or we're all going to end up in the middle of nowhere."
(Orson Scott Card: Ender's Game)

The reason this quote intrigues me is because of the similarity it has to the situation of the unconstrained, independent, limitless young single adult. I am convinced that it is actually very dangerous to be one.

Our paths do diverge as we go. It is natural and exciting that they do. But sometimes it is easy to forget that there are so few constraints and we can drift lazily - forgetting what our life's purpose is, forgetting the work that we can be doing.

To be without constraints, without a set direction, without limits is to lack the ability to progress. In anything - math, science, language - there are rules, laws, and limits. Whether it is a formula, a law, or grammar rules, it is necessary to define them and to follow them if anything is going to be built and if progress is going to be made. If these constraints do not exist, it can be paralysing. How can one begin to filter, to choose, to make decisions? One can easily lose momentum and end up floating...

We must catch hold, build momentum, and take off; without letting the weightlessness distract, discourage, or paralyze - only then can we navigate and begin to build.

The Banana Bandit

The origins of the Banana Bandit

A long time ago... oh, perhaps as long as 6 months ago, one of my co-workers (Chad) returned from lunch to find (inexplicably) a banana on his desk. The banana had on its peel a funny face - made by a blue felt marker.

The face was very silly. In fact it looked a lot like this.

Chad was not amused. In fact, he went to each person on our team (there were about 8 of us) demanding to know who was the culprit. No one claimed responsibility, and so Chad's final bitter words had been, "I just can't believe no one will admit to it."

And so the story ended.

Until today.

The Banana Bandit Returns

I received this IM today from Chad...

Chad: are you the banana bandit?
karren: the what?
karren: stealing bananas?
karren: is that why you asked me what I had for lunch :-)
Chad: no the banana bandit has struck again, although I'm not convinced it's the same person, but who knows...quite a little mystery
Chad: you know how in horror movies, like scary movie the person is different but carries on the act
karren: hahahaha
karren: right
karren: it's a sick horror story
karren: involving bananas
karren: so does this one have a face on it too?
Chad: no, a picture of a banana
karren: lol
Chad: very classic
karren: on a banana?
karren: that kind of cracks me up more than a face
Chad: well the mystery will continue
Chad: I trust none of ya
Chad: you all did it, as far as I'm concerned
Chad: just wish the banana would have been a little less ripe, that way i would have eaten it

At this time, I went to see the banana for myself. I was very disappointed. I expected the banana to be a small drawing centered as the face before had been. Instead it looked like a banana shaped ruler. Very disappointing. I discussed it further with my co-worker Christina.

christina: maybe chad put it on his own desk to get attention :-)
christina: LOL
christina: you can tell him i said that
christina: that is SO FUNNY
(Chad's response:)
Chad: I am very attention starved

However, I know it was not Chad. I have my own opinions on who it is, but just as before, I am also confident that he/she will not come forward. And so it ends again.

For now.

Ode to Lake Shore Drive

O Lake Shore Drive!
I pound the pavement that you provide between the lake and the city.
To my left, the expansive sea of Lake Michigan.
To my right, the pulse and laughter, the song and sweat of Chicago's summer.
Others pass me, I pass others. The rhythm of the run facilitates a friendly nod.
Past the river, to the park, and ever by the lake.