Alex

Real Pan Pizza

Food, Recipes Comments Off

Sep 252011

I got this idea from my good friend Brian at EatDrinkMadison. Grab yourself a frozen pizza from the store. I’m not talking an individual one. We’re talkin’ a man-size ‘za here. De-box and unwrap it and then let it sit on the counter for 20-30 minutes. Waiting is the hardest part.

When it’s defrosted, get a frying pan that’s big enough to hold the pizza. Brian recommends folding the pizza over. I didn’t find that necessary. Lightly grease the bottom of the pan. I used olive oil. If you want to mimic the Pizza Hut deep-dish taste, then go heavy on the grease!

Put the pizza in the pan, add a little water, cover and cook on medium heat for five minutes. Remove lid, cook until done, and mega ENJOY!

What’s In a Name?

Writing Comments Off

Sep 182011

Part 1!

The famous quote from Shakespeare is:

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”

Do names mean anything? I think they do and, for the most part, I put a lot of effort in selecting the right name for the right character. I believe many names give readers an instantaneous feel for the character.

Examples of this are my two main characters from The Raven series on JoyBoy Island. Bryce Farrington is rich, comes from the upper class, and has a high-powered career in the financial sector. The Farrington name has links to a political family in Hawaii and sounds aristocratic.

Jason Phillip is a strong dominant character. He’s a Master at a BDSM club and a lifeguard during the day. To me, Jason is a strong name, that of a leader… think Jason and the Argonauts. Strength is one of Jason’s underlying characteristics. Frequently I try to make the name match the character.

However, occasionally, a character names himself. In Possession of Truth, both the names Randy McQuaide and Eben Foster came after I started developing the story. The names don’t necessarily match their personalities but they don’t cause a juxtaposition with their personalities!

Play Ball!

Sports Comments Off

Sep 092011

Thursday September 8th and I have reached a new milestone! At age 43, I went to my first baseball game.

Growing up, I was a diehard Yankees fan. I can still rattle off which player was at every position. These were the days that Reggie Jackson was big. My favorite player was centerfielder Mickey Rivers. Despite repeated requests every year, my father never took me to a game. His philosophy was that watching it on TV was better and less expensive.

I always felt like I’d missed out on a rite of childhood. After several years of planning and seemingly have the universe plot against us, partner and I got in the partner-mobile and headed to Milwaukee with Brewers tickets in hand.

It was an incredible experience! I sobbed like a drag queen during the national anthem and cheered like a mad man at the first home run scored by Yuniesky Betancourt.

The Brewers lost to the Phillies 6-2 but I feel like I won!

Proud of Madison

Musings Comments Off

Aug 222011

Yesterday, my partner and I attended Madison’s Pride parade and festival afterward. There seemed to be many more people this year than in previous years and this heartens me. I think the movement for equality, gay marriage rights, and equality in the military have taken huge steps forward.

New York legalizing gay marriage and the systematic dismantling of DADT are extremely significant and I hope the movement can keep building momentum. Equality is a long overdue concept! Don’t you agree?

After the parade we listened to speeches by Madison mayor, Paul Soglin, whom I don’t like, and long-time congresswoman, Tammy Baldwin. I just love her. Go Tammy! The speeches were inspiring and spoke of hope but had a lingering aftertaste of what hasn’t been achieved yet.

What I found most inspiring was the openness that isn’t normally seen even in downtown Madison and the acceptance that homosexuality is a normal way of life and something that shouldn’t be shoved in a closet. This is the way it should be everywhere.

Throw Me Some Pigskin!

Sports Comments Off

Jul 312011

Football being my favorite sport, I am more than ecstatic that the lockout is over and football is back on track! My feelings toward the lockout, CBA issues, and players versus owners issues were ambivalent. We’re talking about two groups of people who make millions while the rest of the world is lucky to be making minimum wage. I think about the entire issue and am glad it’s over.

Besides the fact that Green Bay rocks and IS going to win the Super Bowl again, here are some of my thoughts on football and specifically the QB position.

Brett Favre: Well, this had to come up. LOSER. I hope he never gets into the GB hall o’ fame and they never retire his number. He has an ego the size of Texas and treated his fans like dirt.

Kevin Kolb: Really classy guy. I hope he does well in Arizona. I think he’s just been jinxed with bad luck and always been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Aaron Rodgers: OMG! * swoons* Hey Aaron, wanna switch teams?!?! I’ll ditch my partner for you!!! j/k

Michael Vick: Kudos to the guy for turning his life around. I can’t say I’m convinced he did it because of ethics or moolah, but I think he’s done an incredible job both professionally and socially (no excesses either way) of projecting the image of an upstanding citizen.

Peyton and Eli Manning: *growls * Me hates everything Manning. Go away arrogant bastards.

Carson Palmer: I used to like him. He put up with the wackiest team in the NFL, kept his cool, and still managed to throw the football around with style. His latest trade-me or I’ll retire stunt is pathetic. Dude has a contract. Most hardworking folks know what that means. He’s being an absolute jackass about not wanting to play for the Bengals.

Donovan McNabb: WTF? If you’re earning more than minimum wage, who the flying fuck cares what team you’re on. Do your part, dude, otherwise you’re nothing but a L-O-S-E-R.

Matt Hasselbeck: Another seriously classy QB who did not deserve the hand he was dealt. I wish him nothing but the best with the Titans!

Vince Young: Three words- Grow up, loser.

Jay Cutler: OK, even though he’s a Bear and “The Bears Still Suck!”, I like Jay Cutler. He isn’t full of fake niceties but he doesn’t take football to an extreme. For those that had issues with his “quitting” during the NFC Championship game, Jay is an insulin dependent diabetic who has to take injuries more seriously. This is not a question of toughness. Jay should be lauded for his decision. A weaker man would have stayed in the game, made everything worse, and then been sidelined for the following year.

Matt Stafford: Might be a threat if a paper cut doesn’t do him in.

Drew Brees: Name the time and the place!

Mark Sanchez: I think he’s OK but being a Jet seems to destroy anyone without extreme moral and character development.

Sam Bradford: I can be single if you want!

Tony Romo: Completely overrated.

Colt McCoy: OMG! Cowboy heaven! How can you not wanna rustle someone name Colt McCoy. I think he got thrown into an ugly situation (Cleveland) and is doing a damn fine job. Here’s hoping he has a great season!

I Love NY!

Musings 1 Response »

Jul 252011

By now everyone knows that New York State has legalized gay marriage. About time, I say. I was moved reading CNN’s online article about the first weddings performed. I was especially pleased to read that Rabbi Shaaron Feinbaum of Beit Simchat Torah congregation offered religious ceremonies for those desiring one. All too frequently, Western religions have become associated with intolerance and prejudice.

What has struck me in reading numerous articles on this, is the sheer joy of couples throughout New York. Even though marriage rites pre-date any written history, it’s known that 5,000 years ago the Sumerians created rules governing marriage and the oldest marriage certificate was found on Elephantine Island, dating back 2,500 years. It boggles the mind that some people can be excluded from participating in a fundamental right of humanity.

New York joins Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia in allowing same-sex marriages. Illinois, Hawaii, Delaware, California, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington approved civil unions that provide gay couples with extensive marriage-like rights.

Where does my home state of Wisconsin sit? One of my friends has now changed the name of the state to “Scottwalkerstan” and it seems that this part of the country is taking too many steps backward. Domestic partnerships for same-sex couples have been recognized in Wisconsin since August 3, 2009 despite same-sex marriage being banned by Wisconsin statutes and a constitutional amendment in 2006. On top of that residents who go out of state to contract a marriage that would be prohibited within Wisconsin can be fined up to $10,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 9 months!

My thought on this: RIDICULOUS! Wisconsin has been an interesting but mostly harmonious blend of liberal and conservative but always at the forefront of freedom and human rights. It’s a disgrace that we are so far behind other states, including states with puritanical roots, in this issue.

Mount Vail, Aspen, and Leadville

Travel Comments Off

Jul 182011

After enjoying the fireworks in Vail, partner and I hiked the Bighorn Creek Trail in White River National Forest the following day. The altitude reaches a mild 10,800 ft. and the trail is rated moderately difficult. We got an early start (7 a.m. is about as early as I can manage when on vacay!) and enjoyed the hike. Along the way we saw numerous mountain streams, wildflowers and birds, and, on the way back, several winded hikers, who were starting out much too late.

The next few days were spent touring the surrounding area. We visited Leadville, which is touted as the “last truly untouched mining town of the 1880s boom period.” The area is rich in ore containing zinc, silver, gold, magnesium, lead, and copper. It was very reminiscent of an old west town

and we stopped for drinks at the Silver Dollar Saloon.

We also drove to Aspen and enjoyed a trip via gondola to the summit.

On our way back, we stopped at the Continental Divide on Route 82. Again, more spectacular views of the Rockies!

While I am usually very productive while on vacation, I was only able to edit five chapters of my latest book, Playing For Keeps. I am, however, completely recharged and ready to write!

Fourth on the Eagle River

Travel Comments Off

Jul 152011

After visiting Denver, my partner and I drove to Vail where we spent a week. To celebrate the 4^th, we went whitewater rafting on the Eagle River. The river was running a class III-IV. Class III means that there are numerous, high, irregular waves, a lot of rocks and eddies, and rapids with passages that are clear but narrow and requiring expertise in maneuvering.

We did the lower Eagle River on the 4^th and the middle Eagle River on the 6^th. I’m in the middle on the far side of this picture. There was a mom and her kids in the same raft with us.

The night of the 4^th, we ate at Alpenrose Restaurant. I had the Zürcher Geschnetzeltes with spätzle. Yum! We then caught the fireworks on Golden Peak. We were so close that, looking up, it looked like they were falling on us. A piece of a firework wrapper did fall on me. My mom says that means good luck!

Denver

Travel Comments Off

Jul 102011

My partner and I usually go to Door County, Wisconsin for the 4th of July. This year we opted for Denver and a small family reunion to celebrate my mother’s 80th birthday. As a small child, she would vacation in the Dolomites and seeing the Rockies was always a dream for her.

We arrived the night of June 30 and, much as I truly believe Chicago O’Hare airport is the worst on the planet, Denver International competes well for the title.

We spent a full day in Denver and visited the Denver Zoo. It was fantastic and the Okapi were our favorite exhibit.

We had dinner at the Wynkoop Brewing Company which is a brewpub just like those found in Wisconsin! We also caught a ballgame at Coors Field Stadium. The Colorado Rockies creamed the Kansas City Royals. They had spectacular fireworks and it was an awesome evening. Too bad the Brewers couldn’t win as well.

Possession of Truth Update

Possession of Truth Comments Off

Jun 262011

I have lots of good news regarding Possession of Truth! I’ve been working really hard at getting the book to people and we’re starting to see success. Prairie Books in Mount Horeb, the troll capital of the world, is the first bookstore to carry the print version. It’s on the main strip located near the Grumpy Troll Brew Pub.

Prairie Books is an independent bookstore that has not succumbed to the perils facing small businesses during these difficult economic times. They carry a wide selection of general and specific interest books, especially those on subjects of local and regional interest. The owner, John, is a great guy who, in my opinion, prefers the written word over technology any day.

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