On Dinner

I had dinner out this evening. This is not a particularly rare occurrence, but neither is it a nightly one as it once was. I had the pleasure of dining at The Metropolitan Grill. I have eaten the The Met (as it is commonly called) many times, stretching back to 2004. With a few exceptions, I have enjoyed each visit. The service is generally very good, the food is exceptional, and the atmosphere is relaxed but not usually overly-casual.

Tonight was not noteworthy, but it was very good. We began with the crab-cakes (which are exceptional, and -- oddly enough -- mostly crab). I opted for one of their chalk-board specials, a New York strip steak aged 42 days (instead of the usual 28). The waiter explained that the extra aging would yield a somewhat 'softer' piece of meat with a more 'buttery' flavor. As seems to happen every time I stray from my usual fillet mignon, I was less than thrilled with my steak experience. Don't get me wrong, it was a fabulous piece of meat, and it tasted wonderful. I could not, however, help but be jealous of my lovely dinner companion's perfectly seared puck of meat with the gorgeous blood-red interior. We both opted for the steak-fries for the first time, and both wondered aloud why we had not done so in the past. We shared a gigantic side-order of Alaskan king-crab mac & cheese. I am not sure that there are words to describe how good this side dish is. The sweetness of the crab is offset perfectly by the tang of sharp white cheddar, the creaminess of the bechamel balanced by the crispness of the panko topping, browned perfectly in the intense heat of their ovens.

The late-ish vintage (2001) Gouguenheim Malbec we chose to accompany our meat-fest was perfectly peppery, velvety and just fruity enough that it did not over-power the steaks. I have, of late, become quite fond of Malbecs of various vintages and provenances. They pair often perfectly with steaks, and tend not to break the bank.

For dessert (always the most important course, right?) we opted to share the Chocolate Lava Cake, which is quite good, and was really too much. Who am I kidding? It was fabulous (I love chocolate) and there is no such thing as too much when one is talking about a meal like this. Excess is the name of the game, and I came out a winner tonight. Next time I'll get the fillet, but other than that, I have no complaints. If you have a chance, give the Met a go.

There Is No "Us And Them"

My intention is to develop this idea further in a future post, but I want to set the concept in motion before it escapes my feeble mind.  

Often during the debates about the economic stimulus and bailout programmes I have heard commentators, pundits, politicos and people I know talk confidently about why we should just let "them" or "those people" or "those companies" fail.  It strikes me that, while there once might have been a more discreet economy that would tolerate the failure of large companies without considerable effect on the rest of the economy, such is no longer the case.  When Rick Santelli says he doesn't want to save the "losers" who can't afford their mortgages, I wonder how he will feel when half the houses on his block, or condos in his building are foreclosed and the value of his property plummets as a result.  When my friend says that GM should be allowed to fail because they made poor management and development decisions in the past, I wonder how he will feel when the ripple effect of all that unemployment chokes off his own business.  

The sort of narrow thinking that says we should not, as a society, take an active role in rescuing our economy for all of our good baffles me.  I'm all for personal responsibility, and I am not in favor of handing out money without any regulation, or requirement for how it is spent.  I do think, however, that government intervention is the only way left to stave off complete economic chaos.  We tried letting the market, such as it was, determine economic growth, we sloughed off regulations, we loosened lending requirements, and we encouraged people to live a consumer lifestyle that was largely unsustainable.  I'm sure someone will read this and think "socialist."  Fine.  If the only argument to be made against me is to trot out some 1950's bugaboo, I'm okay with that.  I, for one, don't think socialism is necessarily always a bad thing.  

The Proust Questionnaire

I have read it for some time now, how long I could not say.  I refer, of course, to The Proust Questionnaire that ends each issue of Vanity Fair.  Here for your amusement, I offer my answers.  Please feel free to cut and paste the questionnaire into your own blog, onto the book of faces, or wherever you might want to amuse those around you.

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Great food, good wine, and someone nice to look at on the other side of the table; with no thoughts of a workday ahead.

2. What is your greatest fear?

Making someone ill with my cooking.

3. What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Willful ignorance.

4. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Impatience with others.

5. What is your greatest extravagance?

Great steak.

6. What is your current state of mind?

Reflective.

7. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Temperance 

8. On what occasion do you lie?

When I think it might protect someones feelings.

9. What is the quality you most like in a man?

Confidence.

10. What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Confidence.

11. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

A chef.  At least, that is my hope.

12. What words or phrases do you most overuse?

"Indeed" and "It would seem."

13. What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Books.

14. When and where were you happiest?

Paris, 1993.

15. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Not yet applicable.

16. Where would you like to live?

Paris, France.

17. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? 

Being stuck in a windstorm.

18. What is your most marked characteristic?

My capacity for forgiveness.

19. What do you most value in your friends?

Wit, compassion and intelligence.

20. Who are your favorite writers?

Shakespeare, Tolkien, and some of the old Greeks.

21. Who are your heroes in real life?

Gandhi, Malcolm X, King, teachers (generally).

22. What is your greatest regret?

Not telling the people I love often enough how I feel.

23. What is your motto?

One never knows what the future holds.

24. How would you like to die?

Standing up.

The End is Near. Or is it?

Where were you when the 'Culture Wars' ended?  Oh, that's right.  They aren't over.  Having said that, they might be close to a cease-fire.  

I happen to be of the mindset that politics based on identity, be it religious, racial, ideological, or otherwise, is bad politics.  I also agree with our new President that those things that bind us, as Americans, are frankly greater than those things that work to tear us asunder.  I believe that the key to ending, or at the very least mitigating the culture wars, is for each of us to identify those issues that trigger our impulse to vilify our opposition, and then find a way to compromise on those issues.  I am not advocating that we should compromise our principles, but rather I am advocating that on the issues we find most divisive, that we seek common ground.

My question to you, then, gentle reader is this: what are you willing to compromise, if anything?

And since I wouldn't dream of asking you to do something I wouldn't myself do, here is my answer:

I have always felt strongly that 'faith' has no place in politics.  During the Bush II Presidency my feeling was reinforced by the President's consistent disingenuousness about his own faith, and the role it played in his governance.  I cringed when he described the (so-called) 'War on Terror' as a 'Holy War.'  When he claimed that many of his decisions were taken as a result of prayer, I wondered: who is answering this man when he prays?  Maybe he should stop taking the advice.  It's not really working out.

I am willing to allow that real faith, the guiding principles of religion, and the moral guidance offered by sincere religious leaders can have a positive influence on the decision making of politicians who, due to the nature of their positions, tend to make decisions out of self-interest rather than for the public good.  

Did I really just write that?  Yes.  I am willing to compromise the position that religion can only be a dividing issue in politics.  I am not willing to throw out the disestablishmentarian principles that are core to my political senses, but I am willing to allow that a person's faith can guide them to be a better leader.  I am willing to allow that the moral certitude afforded by deeply held faith can allow a leader to withstand the temptations inherent in power positions.

So, where are you willing to give?  Are you willing to give anything?  Is the goal of ending the 'Culture Wars' and moving forward into a post-identity political landscape even worth the effort?  I think it better be.  

25 things about me

I like lists.  No, that is not one of the 25 things.  It is simply to say that a list of 25 random and quotidian facts about myself is appealing for a number of reasons, not least of which is that I like lists.  

Shall we get on with it?

The list:

1.  I took my first French class in 6th grade

2.  I played violin for one year (1983-ish)

3.  I wrote a series of 19 sonnets in high school, just because

4.  I've broken all of my fingers, though thankfully neither thumb

5.  I would live in Paris (France) in a heartbeat if work and money were not issues

6.  I've been to almost as many countries in Europe as I have States in the U.S. (England, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein; California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Alaska, Hawai'i)

7.  I'm a sympathy puker.  When I see someone puke, I can usually not restrain my urge to do the same

8.  I always do crosswords with a pen, and always all caps

9.  My dad played minor league baseball, but I quite after tee-ball because it was boring.  I started playing football (soccer) that fall.  I was 5

10.  I resisted getting an iPhone for 5 months.  Now I have one, and I love it

11.  I am a Capricorn, but I put no stock at all in astrology

12.  I really want to learn Farsi

13.  I also really want to travel to Iran.  The architecture, the culture, the food!

14.  I don't collect things, but if I could have one collectible item it would be a first edition of 'The Hobbit'

15.  I grew up in 'the hood.'  I've rarely felt uncomfortable in the 'bad' parts of towns as a result.  People are people, I mind my own business and it seems to work out fine

16.  I love cars, but don't much care for driving

17.  I am not religious.  I believe in god (or something) but not in God

18.  I would like to work somewhere I could wear a suit and tie

19.  I don't wear a watch, for the most part

20.  I used to skate, I'd like to get back into it, but I am afraid I might be too old

21.  I volunteered at a cat-only animal shelter for a few years.  My favorite thing was taking a scared or stand-offish cat into a meet and greet room and sitting quietly until he mellowed out.  Socializing cats is a really joyful undertaking

22.  I got my first (and so far only) tattoo when I was 31.  It took that long to figure out what I really wanted

23.  I have a lot of books.  Last time I counted there were more than 600 in my house.  There are more in my mom's storage

24.  I wish I was a better gardener 

25.  I'm not really afraid of death.  I've embraced the transience of life, I don't want to die, but I believe that on some level that, sometimes, being afraid of death is really just being afraid of living fully

There it is.  Do with it what you will.

   

Atmosphere

Body crackles with

Electric passion

Seized by single-minded desire

Propelled upward, ever upward

Through dizzying heights

Elevated beyond Self

A comet blazing a trail

Through your atmosphere

Freed from boundless alone-ness

By Love's fickle gravity

Hurtling faster toward

 The oblivion of your embrace

Mere vapor trails of my lonely mind

Remain

A Toast

A Toast! To sunrise

stellar elixir

Imbibe the copper sky

with all your heart

Make way for joy

Banish sorrow

Thou seeker of divine accord

Consumer of freedom

Embrace immodesty

in all things

Be boldly in love, bolder still in loving

A fire and riot of passions

Inhale Eternity

Always young, aspiring

Gilded by irrational exuberance

Shining beacon of foreverness

A Toast! To Sunset

Fluid canopy

Drenched in fuschia dew

Shivering with pleasure