Shaker Morning Light

"Shaker Morning Light" (Berkeley, 2005), by Paul Martin Lester

Taken shamelessly and without permission from the photographer's website. Paul Lester is an astonishingly cool human being and a thoughtful artist. Take a moment to enjoy his pages.

Afternoon snack

All recipes posted on Sed Digressio are tested thoroughly by credentialed professionals in our specially designed laboratory.

Now that the sun is setting later, a man's thoughts turn to afternoons on the deck. Just about my favorite thing to do is to sip on a margarita, enjoy some guacamole and deconstruct the world around me. So, mix up a set, go outside, and give me a call.

The Cadillac Margarita - a recipe I have modified over almost 20 years of testing - is an outstanding choice, but if you plan on going somewhere later, this is not for you. Serve it in a martini glass to get the point across to the uninitiated.

1.5 oz. of a nice tequila (Astral is my current choice.)
.5 oz. Cointreau
.5 oz. Grand Marnier
1 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
.5 oz of honey (or agave nectar)
Salt

Rim a chilled martini glass with lime and coat with salt. Combine the tequila, Cointreau, Grand Mariner, lime juice and sweetener in a shaker with ice, shake, and let it sit for a minute or two. Shake again and serve. Repeat.

Making an incredible guacamole depends on one's ability to find fresh ingredients and the willingness to experiment with spices. I include various Indian curries (yes, really) in addition to a teaspoon of chili spices in order to give it a warm (but not too hot) contrast to the cool avocado. Don't be afraid to use more spice: Most guacamole is mediocre because it's too bland. If you can plan ahead (who has the time?), guacamole always tastes better on Day II. You'll need:

2 avocados (the more you use, the more spices you'll want to add)
1 small, chopped and strained tomato
.5 cup of minced shallot
4 cloves of minced garlic
1 teaspoon of fresh chilies, or 1 teaspoon of chili powder (at least, to taste)
2 limes, juiced (to taste)
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Minced cilantro leaves for garnish

It's good to mince where it says mince. If you have a potato masher, this is the best tool for combining the ingredients, but a hand mixer will do well, too. Leaving the final product in a mostly mixed state - as opposed to fully pureed - is more pleasing aesthetically in the same way that mostly dead is preferable to all dead.

Serve with salted blue corn chips.

Call The Digressor to discuss your visions of the eternal.

Nike

"The Winged Victory (Nike) of Samothrace" (220-190 B.C.), Unknown

A Man's Best Friend

Ella Dog Truslow

Allan B. Jones

"Self portrait" (1991), by Allan B. Jones

(click on painting for larger image)

Young Redhead

"Young Redhead in an Evening Dress" (1918), by Amedo Modigliani

Steve Russell

One of the truly exceptional human beings on this planet is Steve Russell. When performing with his wonderful wife Kobi Shaw, they form the juggling team In Capable Hands. This former Clown College professor has performed on The Tonight Show, and most recently, in the New York City Opera's production of Pagliacci. You can see Steve and Kobi in action by looking at these YouTube postings. There's also a great video on Steve's booking agent's pages. You never knew how badly you needed a juggler around until you've met Steve.

Three

Madonna

"Madonna" (1894-1895), by Edvard Munch

Old Friends

Terance Fowler, John Truslow, and Jennifer Lantz
April 13, 2007

32 years of friendship, and counting