portland

A Day in Portland

Before going to the Grand Prix when it rolled through my home city my father decided to take the day and hang out seeing different things that people have told me to go check out while I was working on my stuff. My father and I had started from on of the MAX stations. The MAX is our form of train that goes through the city and even reach to some of the smaller towns on each side. Buses would then work often from those stops branching out from the main train lines making transport when you cannot drive at least somewhat.

Finally though I have decided on how a rating system should work on this as well because there was a lot of different experiences. It is an easy system that explains things I think. One to ten allows a fair enough range where people can discern a little better versus maybe a five point or star system. Next would be how the numbers are in context to each other and of course all judgings are simply an opinion based on the enjoyment that was had.

Zero is the absolute worst. Getting a zero is akin to me out at the place wanting to light it on fire, and hoping whatever is built on the ashes is better. Ten is perfection. Saying something is ten out of ten is the magical euphoric moment that everything in life has been building to and my pants will be caked with the joy of a thousand angels that have cried just being in the universe when such a moment exists. In short not happening in this life time and if it does then it won’t happen that many times. Five is average and that is just the everyday place you go and leave no harm nor boon. That will happen a lot as it will be the average on my guideline.

Ground Kontrol was something as a gamer people told me to go see and how everything was the bee’s knees, but instead of being the cat’s pajamas it just belonged in the litter box. Our food was nearly thrown at us and their was near no one there. The games were okay, but after bad food we had to hit the can. It took half an hour to be buzzed in to somewhere I would rather not go again. Food was bland, second floor a fire hazard according to an experienced ex fire inspector, had to be buzzed in to. Final call 3/10

Kell’s was a stop to try getting the taste of the food with the place been around for close to a century. Being around that long one has to be good at something, and despite the couple hiccups it did not disappoint. The only two problems I had was that their lamb stew was more like a thin broth with some under cooked potatoes that seemed weird. You would expect lamb stew to be done well at an Irish place. Whiskey was good for the price and my fish and chips and scotch egg were good. Final call 6/10

Finally that leaves us to the Lovecraft bar where every thing was just not going right for us. It was hot, both of our knees were not enjoying it, my skeleton was feeling like it was made of candy corn. So walking in to a nice dark cool bar was just fine especially since they had just opened for the day, and no one was in there. It was clearly a dance bar getting ready for the night shift starting at about ten in the evening. One thing about this bar was we found out it was a vegan bar when it came to their food, but we had already eaten so we just decided to have a couple drinks. Going somewhere with only vegan food when you are not can be a bit intimidating to some, but that was not the case here. They had an amazing assortment of tea and the bartender was a very friendly young lady who answered our questions while she was organizing the booze shipment for the night. Pops enjoyed the horror theme, so much he said he was going back. I will head back here, but it may take a while since I am on the other side from the western suburbs. Not taking any food in mind, which will be done next time means a final call of 9/10.

Ground Kontrol nearly screwed up the day with how bad they were, and Lovecraft made sure the end was on a positive note.

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Typing and Games

Right now Shattered Reflections stands at about 11k words and my shoulders are already complaining about what is to come. The goal on this project is 65k to 90k erring probably on the shorter side. It is an auto biographical project that some people have asked for after finding out some of the experiences I have had. The way it is right now I am just looking at it as a good way to practice writing of that length. Considering writing is something I want to get better at and grow maybe into a career or at least something that would be interesting to try.

My typing speed has taken a nose dive because of my shoulders which sounds weird, but you need your shoulders to keep things going. Without a good base then your arm is pretty much only half of what you can do at your best, and that is weird to think about unless you need to. It will be something that will just be just needed to worked through because, and anyone that has a condition that has to deal with pain can tell you one must either handle it and use it to push or they will always be pushed because of it.

It is nice to see the old stories as well just to go back in time again for certain things. Doing a project like this provides you with some perspective that some people do not have just going through the paces in an average life. This world has too much in it to experience for people to just go through the paces month to month and year to year. Which by the way my father the self professed redneck and I decided a few weeks ago to have a single day in the city of Portland which will be an experience on here soon.

Things are going as well as as they can. Found a little time to play a little bit relaxing with one of the Ludum Dare creations called Steam Heart. It will bring a lot of memories of old Megaman games, and I played to the end of the first boss while not botching too badly. Unfortunately those are the kinds of games that I have absolutely no skill in, and boy does it show. The game is fun enough that even scrubs like me can get through the first boss somewhat easily. The controls are easy to pick up and if you like those kinds of games then please look it up on Newgrounds or even on Google.

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What is an unhipster

Hipsters are defined as a person who follows the latest trends and fashions, especially those regarded as being outside the cultural mainstream. At least by Google standards so with that in mind let me explain why this whole thing is called Unhipster in Portland.

In short I am not following fads. I barely know enough about fads to pick them apart I just focus from one thing to another and continue practicing something. Drawing to writing to learning to this to that to slantways and so on. Portland seemingly is gaining a reputation as the hipster capitol of the U.S. Which, in all honesty makes me want to drive my head through a desk at the speed of light. Their are great things here though and plenty of people just a little bit strange, eccentric, and altogether fun to have a drink with.

I just kinda do things and when I finish them I don’t know what to do when the goal is in my hands. Except get better and continue. My clothes usually revolve around my work outfit, my comfortable outfit, and the I need to do something special outfit. I don’t own a stitch of plaid although I own about as much black fabric as a hot topic that went out of business.

Unhipsters are just people that are what they are good, bad or meh. So join us and be yourselves. Besides how hard is it to join a group that is defined as an un-something.You just have to not be something in this case a fake, fad following, flagellating figure with few flickers of full blown original fantasy. Alliteration is fun by the way and is a writing device I like to use. Anyway if you are not one of those multiple f-word describing targets then welcome to the club.

You are an unhipster and you are one of us. Unless these convenient graphs describes you.

Link on the word graph by the way.

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The legend of update: Bad pun’s mask

So what is going in life well that is a semi funny question.I am trying to figure out how to make a breakfast cupcake (not a muffin) So while that is being mulled over. I have gotten some recipes done that are fairly cheap to make, and not like the other ones are really not. I have done two ramen dishes if memory serves. Still we will be playing with tofu for another recipe in the future as well the secret to the quesadilla and how to do simply delicious fried rice. Now normally when I say it I also seem to bungle it by doing something else.

Luckily the pictures are already in the camera as well so even I can’t screw it up.

In things other then cooking I actually got some game videos and I’m finding playing with the program for the video editing at least somewhat cathartic. Recently got some videos on proxy, glitch lab, and chamber door so if you find yourself wanting to play those games you can find the links on the videos through the youtube link on the side.

Writing wise national novel writing month is coming up and I hope to get something done for that.

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Apple onion salad with garlic mustard dressing

This is a nice dish that will work well with the pork dish for next week. If you are vegetarian no fear this works just as well as a light potluck dish. For two servings you will need the following.

Salad: One green apple, half a white or yellow onion, salt and black pepper to taste, one lemon to juice. In this picture the orange and lemon are already zested because I used the zest for making my own bath salts. Like put in the bath and make everything smell nice as you relax and mine is all natural. Salt, teas, extracts, zests, etc. So ya mine are already zested if you have a moment you can use the zest as a garnish on top.

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Dressing: A tablespoon mustard paired with one of honey or two tablespoons honey mustard, one teaspoon chopped garlic, a pinch of cocoa powder.

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So core your apple chop it in to quarters before slicing and toss it in a pan on low heat. Next you want to take your half onion and slice it up julienne style making sure to do it a little thicker then normal julienne. tossing it in the pan we will mix it together and let the flavors meet each other as the onion begins to sweeten. Sweating on medium low with a touch of butter or oil of your choice if you do not have a non stick pan.

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Mix up your dressing as everything is sweating just mixing it all up before tossing a portion in to toss with the reminder of the dressing on the side to taste.

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Potted shrimp

For two servings you will need the following…

Half lb of shrimp meat, three ounces of salted butter, teaspoon of chopped garlic, teaspoon of honey mustard, four slices of sourdough bread and chili powder for garnish.

This appetizer comes from across the pond originally made with brown shrimp you can make it with shrimp meat like me if you do not mind seasoning your butter a little bit stronger.

Potted Shrimp Ingredient

 

I like having the butter melt so you can season and make everything mix completely. Whisk your mustard and garlic in with the butter over low heat before dumping your shrimp in the butter. Cook in the butter until meat begins to turn white , and for the miniature shrimp that is about ninety seconds on low heat.

butter mix

Mustard and garlic halfway mixing before tossing the shrimp in. After your shrimp is done you pour in to a pair of ramekins and while some prefer this chilled I actually enjoy this the most while everything to smear on toast making a delightful meal. Garnish with Chili powder if you like a little bit of heat at the end all the a quick grind of pepper works too.

finish potted shrimp

When you chill the butter mix with the shrimp the butter will grow opaque but the shell will be much thinner then you think. After you chill them  the meal is just delicious with some toasted sourdough for breakfast. I had some garlic sourdough I bought on sale from the local Franz store I just warmed up to eat with. Chilled properly the potted shrimp can last a week without major issues as long as it is refrigerated.chilled potted shrimp

If you can find your way to get some butter and shrimp with a couple slices of good bread then you can make this the focus of a good meal in the autumn sun watching the beautiful colors of the leaves maybe with a nice glass of whiskey and cheesecake. Hope you enjoy your own version of this dish.

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Thoughts in the culinary world – Bobby Flay and James Beard

Now it seems that everyone worth their knives has something to say. The world of professional cooking is sometimes akin to the world of professional wrestling when larger then life personalities clash. Everyone has their own thing to say and everyone makes mistakes. When you do something you love so much, and someone makes you feel subpar some people are going to shoot off their mouths. From Top Chef to Paula Deen everyone seems to have their hand halfway in a boiling soup pot which is sad.

Bobby Flay is the most hated person in cooking. Which I can see as he seems very abrasive, almost disrespectful of other cultures and just sometimes acts like an ass. Seeing the food he makes and listening to him talk as well I really would not want to go to his restaurants. One thing no one can take away is he knows the business side enough that he has put himself in position on cooking shows for many years. Releasing books and through all the mistakes he has made one must give credit that he has used his business to back up where his cooking fails.

It is kinda sad he will be the most well known chef of the era because one of my cooking heroes is an Oregon born man by the name of James Beard. Cooking wise his recipes were never the absolute best, but across the board there was not a man who could boast the skill set he did. On top of that you would have to search to have someone say a bad word about him he always seemed to have a love of food that was only matched by the size of the man himself. The only thing you may find if you actually looked was how nearing the end of this life he decided to take endorsement deals to open more cooking schools. Which he even said made him feel like a “gastronomic whore”.

Sometimes we forget that the measure of a person is not just by popularity. A man can be the best without being the most well known. For the most part we as a culture bring much more infamy for all of our bad before allowing some to spotlight the good. Just some thoughts

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Last thoughts before Main Event

So with the Portland pro tour past and the main event of the grand prix coming through. The final two of the pro tour were actually first time pro tour players and it has been so long for my friend and I that we hope to do well.

In any case it will be fun, and in the grand scheme of things that is what matters.
A part of me is hoping and worried we will do well and before I go into promo mode which is my little version of talking to think I am the best. Everyone has that mode to psych themselves up or talk to an opponent, but I just name mine promo mode.

Anyway, before I go off saying how I may or may not win it is really all about the game. Having fun with people of many different styles from other walks of life before just nerding out. Soon we will be pushing into advertising and my other projects will be getting some more time including my writing and cooking.

So far the year has been getting fairly good at least in getting stuff done. Hopefully after this weekend I will have another good story to share with all of you. Good luck in your travels.

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Publishing and more update

It is amazing how technology works. I am always surprised at how useful these little machines are plugging away at things until we get something done often time with less input then if we did it all ourselves. Soon I will be attempting to get in to video editing to give our editors on the youtube channel a much needed reprieve. That does mean all my projects are going to take some time to get back up to speed.

Chicken a la kiev will be the first recipe next month with a couple more planned throughout the month. Still working on that getting a basic cover set up for the first book 100 Ingredients: Home Edition.

I am going to try for four recipes next month granted that something does not stop me like my oven blowing up. Odd catastrophe aside the four recipes will work with a variety of proteins. One chicken, one shellfish, one fish, and one with pork.

So with that I got a lot of things going and I need to get back to work on them. Thanks for your comments and see ya next time.

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From the heart

So from this point I spent some time about and part of me despite all the energy to get things going. No matter what vim and vigor I may have on these things to chase dreams is a difficult thing to do. Not trying to scare people with that statement, but it just is. Honestly I get a little blue for a while wondering why I continue until I have a moment.

I moment in my life where I look at someone or something, and it strikes me like a backhand to the fore head. There are people clawing on to every shred of hope they can while bettering themselves for something. I cannot give up because if they still have the ability to keep getting up then so do I.

The mother who came from nothing and wants to be an rocket scientist. She has two kids and is single does that stop her. Nope she works every day trying to get a little farther then yesterday. The brothers trying to spread the word of god while the religion is not my cup of tea I can respect the passion for their craft, and the drive to get better.

Thanks for the heart to heart and here is a courage wolf

Courage wolf is awesome

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