December 31, 2014

I put in NYE in image search and I got New Year's Eve and this guy. I am setting up for tonight and hope it don't get too crowded. There is little to sit on.

December 29, 2014

Paper Towel Hacks: Remove Corn Silks.

A damp paper towel is all you need to remove pesky corn silks when you’re husking corn. Just rub the paper towel along the ear of corn (in the opposite direction of the corn silks) and be amazed at how quickly they’re removed!

The emergency coffee filter is a good one too.

December 28, 2014

Money has been spent this season. Just dropped 2K on a pull-out couch and Love Seat. Needed for sure.



TZ marathon coming on December 31st. This year is the 20th Anniversary.



NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2015 :February 16 - March 6, 2015.



Blood Mary time !



This Bacon is the best. I also now have a new oven and am making Bacon that way. Oven cooking makes bacon tastier than the microwave which tends to make it too crispy and dry.



Having people over for New Year's Eve, no place to sit. Answer: Metal Folding chairs, $49.99 for four at Staples. $5 coupon put to use.

December 27, 2014

My cousin who is a big fan of dry Rieslings gave me this : Bloomer Creek Tanzen Dame Edelzwicker( noble wine.) I have to say I am glad to add Dry Rieslings to my wine list.



A Pinot Noir from Hahn Winery was another gift. Maybe I should call this BBQ, Wine and Books.



Since I received Whole Bean Coffee, I figure it is time to grind my own. On sale at Macy's:$36.



A little Bloody Mary action tomorrow morning.

December 26, 2014

Boxing Day.



I had carving duty again. Nice bird.



Of course, the dog had to partake.



Received lots of wine and this which will be used for New Year's Eve.



Steaks, Burgers, Chicken and it will be gone by Sunday.



Received a pound of whole bean coffee. Now I have to grind it. Maybe I'll buy a grinder. Most local supermarkets do not have one anymore. My blender can do it and I have a small processor but they are still packed away.



My nephew and wife gave me this, quite outside my maximum wine price of $20.

December 25, 2014

This is my 1000th post. Merry Christmas to all !



Presents start early, this wine,Truffles and a Barnes and Noble gift card. Bought a large Bailey's Chocolate Cherry for myself and it is in the coffee I am now drinking.



My nephew pointed this one out to me.



Saw The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, I am a fan, so I enjoyed it. The battle scenes were awesome. My only complaint was that I wanted more Beorn. He appeared for about ten seconds, dropped into the battle by an Eagle while shape-shifting into a bear. The argument that the Eagles are just a convenient plot device is rebutted here: Deus Ex Machina.



The Boulevard of Broken Dreams.



Another in the Staten Island Pizza tour : Tony's Brick Oven. Great sauce, Garlic Knots come with marinara sauce and are fantastic.

December 24, 2014

A Christmas Carol starring Reginald Owen is on TCM tomorrow at 11 am. My favorite. Will watch it while drinking Sam Adams Old Fezziwig.

December 22, 2014

In my Christmas shopping, I bought myself Rebel Yell: the Violence, Passion and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson by S.C. Gwynne.

"I always have one single, simple opinion . . . and that is to attack the enemy wherever we find him."

December 21, 2014

Embattled Rebel Jefferson Davis as Commander in Chief by James McPherson is another gift that I will read before giving.

December 20, 2014

For my female relatives, I again went with the Sephora gift card. Comes with a black compact. They will also get lipstick style phone chargers.



For the male relatives, external phone charger and Bailey's Chocolate Cherry (hard to get, mostly sold out.)

December 19, 2014

Finally got to try Sam Adams Chocolate Bock for this year. Very tasty and flavorful.



As I finish up the Christmas shopping, I plan to see The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies this weekend.

December 18, 2014

Dundee Pale Bock Lager , a Rochester NY beer. A Maibock / Helles Bock style beer. Dundee is a sub-set of Genesee Brewing Company.

December 16, 2014

Put up a small tree,new place doesn't have as much room. Will decorate it tomorrow.



Patience and Fortitude decked out.

Salvation Army swingers.



New England Clam Chowder at the Grand Central Oyster Bar. The beer list is solid there. Today's beer is a Kuka Banana Brown Nut Ale.



Cute decorations.

December 15, 2014

Made Macaroni and Cheese last night. Excellent, one added ingredient: 1/3 cup of white wine.

The Creamette box recipe:

2 cups elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups milk
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cook macaroni in 5 quarts boiling water for 8 minutes. Drain macaroni.
In medium saucepan, melt butter.
Stir in flour, mustard, and salt. Gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir until mixture thickens slightly.
Add 1 1/2 cups cheese to milk mixture and stir until melted.
Stir in macaroni.
turn into greased 2 quart baking dish.
Top with remaining cheese.
Bake 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.

Of course, you have to make slight changes. After two failed tries, I added one more Tbs. of flour, one more Tsp. of dry mustard (Coleman's), another 1/2 cup of milk, one more Tbs. of Margerine and 16 oz. (two packs) of sharp Cheddar Cheese. I used two packs to make the mixture and a 1/3 of a cup on top. That worked better.



My annual Christmas Shopping trip is tomorrow. Hitting the Christmas Villages at Grand Central, Bryant Park and Union Square. Staples and Barnes and Noble are also on the list. Will also pick up a Christmas Tree. Finally made some room in the Living Room. Starting to settle in.



Couldn't take the dead zone in the living room. Bought a Netgear wireless extender. So far, so good. $79 at Best Buy. Netflix seems to have a better signal on Roku now. Connects via wireless to your router and then you move it. Easy to set up. It establishes a new signal with a "ext" on the end. Now I have four to pick from. Netflix connect analyzed the signals, and I picked the strongest which was a 5G "ext" signal.

December 14, 2014

Wreath at Greenmarket.



Evening rates for Machu Picchu.



Retirement is on my mind lately. I fully intend to work as long as it makes sense but things are changing. I am in a good spot since I can leave my job tomorrow.

I think big changes are coming soon and I believe I will ride the wave. If I get wiped-out, so be it.



Beer for the weekend.

December 13, 2014

Had Kona Beer yesterday, excellent brews, Castaway was an incredible IPA.



Baileys Chocolate Cherry is quite good and goes great with coffee.



12/13/14, won't be another date like this until 2103 although I am looking forward to April 3, 2021.