(blogtoberfest day 18)

Here are Hamilton and I watching The X Factor together:

One of us is slightly more interested than the other. Heh, heh.

I feel conflicted. Pulled between the desire to meet and complete the challenge I accepted and post every day of October, and wanting to throw myself more fully into BYW, putting more effort and focus on developing a presenting a more identifiable, less scattered, voice and concept here. 

So that's what I'm thinking about. Good thing I can multi-task: snuggling AND thinking simultaneously. xo

No, really... (blogtoberfest day 17)

I'm starting to question the wisdom (read: gung-ho, reckless enthusiasm) of taking the Blogging Your Way course and committing to Blogtoberfest at the same time. Then again, it's so fun, it's worth it to occasionally resort to a picture and a blurb like this to make sure I hit the every day goal of Blogroberfest. So here it is. I'm laying it all out: I like beer. Specifically, local beer. This is a sticker on the wall of Toronado. Where I went with my husband this evening to enjoy Local Pint Night--when beers from local breweries are $3. I won't say it was a well-deserved break. It wasn't. But well enjoyed? Yes indeed.

A Fair Warning

If you haven't heard about the Occupy Wall Street movement by now, I assume you live deep in a cave or high on a mountain or are perhaps stranded at sea, and thus don't have radio, television, or Internet access. 

Here in San Diego we've had marches and occupation downtown and at the Civic Center since October 7, and they have been peaceful and largely tolerated by our local government... until recently, that is. We've had some dramatic situations culminating in SDPD pepper spraying protesters. As you can imagine, there is some tension.

I haven't attended the protests yet, though I would like to show support. I find it particularly unconscionable to pepper spray peaceful protesters, simply because they are inconvenient. Pepper spray should be resorted to only when an individual is uncontrollably violent or a grave danger to himself. They aren't arresting most of the victims. I don't understand how one can be considered enough of a law breaker or public nuisance to pepper spray, but not to arrest. Anyway, I will make with the music already.

Local San Diego band, F_Tape has released a song, "A Fair Warning," in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street (and the world) protesters. Check it out:

If you like it, I think it's still available for free download, here. 

Caturday! (Blogtoberfest day 15)

No, I am not planning to make caturday a weekly feature, but it's great for busy days--especially as I try to do a true Blogtoberfest daily update. It's hard to think of what to say every day. I spend my "doing stuff" time blogging. But without doing, there's not enough to post about. A conundrum. 

Today I have a full schedule: shop the Mercato, shop the remaining ingredients and prepare food for the belated Canadian Thanksgiving dinner we're attending tonight, and attend the dinner. And the remaining in-between time I need to do chores and catch up on my Blogtoberfest and Blogging Your Way blogs and comments, as well as the BYW class material. Whew! 

So for the sake of brevity and my sanity, let's talk kitties! Specifically: my Hamilton. Relying on cute pictures once in a while doesn't make this a kitty blog, does it? I say no! Besides, kitty!

I can't believe how quickly Hamilton is growing. He is now just a little over 6 months. At the end of August he looked like this:

Can you tell how roomy that chair is? He's laying down with his head down and so much room to spare! But now he nearly overflows that same chair:

Sigh. They grow up so fast. Heh. Okay, there's so much to do, I'd better get busy! 

Pizza therapy

The Santa Anas have started blowing through San Diego this week. Late Wednesday morning I walked from our office, through the livingroom, into the kitchen thinking how pleasant the weather was, but when I headed back through the apartment toward the office with my glass of water, the air in the livingroom was suddenly oppressively hot. Like an oven. There was a steady breeze blowing through the front door, but the air was hot and dry.

"Well, shit" I thought, "the Santa Anas have arrived."

While I had purchased a chicken to roast this week, the weather has been too hot to turn on the oven the last few days. Yes, I know the USDA guidelines, but with a pastured, freshly-processed chicken one refrigerates right away and then cooks (duh), a few extra days will be fine. 

So last night we arranged to meet our friends Matt and Lynnea for dinner at one of our favorite places for good food and great beer, Blind Lady Ale House. If you consider yourself a beer or pizza connoisseur, and you find yourself in San Diego, take a break from the downtown and hotel circle chain establishments, and make your way to BLAH. So great. And if you're a San Diegan who hasn't dined there yet--well don't admit it! Just get there ASAP! "Toot sweet" if you will. Hahah.

I love how an evening with friends at a restaurant I adore can relax me. I was so grouchy yesterday afternoon! But a few hours with good company and good food and drink fixed my attitude right up! 

I do hope our San Diego autumn isn't too warm for too long--I love cozy sweaters and autumn cooking--but I can't complain too much about lovely weather and dear friends. I hope your week is winding down just as nicely. Happy Friday!