Next to a running Cadillac

Great Irish Party Saturday

Karin Crosby and Nancy Kenny dance an Irish Jig in our dining room at our Irish party last Saturday, March 20, 2010, the cast of Riverdance better watch out! (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Last Saturday we had the largest mostly indoor party we have ever had at our house with many of our bicycling friends. The food and drinks folks brought to the party by folks was great! We sang Irish songs, saw photos from our trip to Ireland and had Irish coffee, Irish whiskey, Irish beer (of course) and enough Irish Stew for the Irish Army (it's a small army!)

It was great seeing so many of our friends. We had a blast entertaining. A good time seemed to be had by all! What fun. Two weeks from today the whine and dine bicycle rides start.

Just One Poppy

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Yesterday was a recovery day for Susie and I, after the fun party the day before. We got our house back in order and did a few things to get ready for this week. Then, towards the late afternoon we drove up Kennedy and went for a walk up the trail there. I decided to take a film camera (Nikon F4) and shoot some wildflowers. I chose film because I like the color palette of this new color film Kodak has come out with. The film is Ektar 100.

The poppys are in bloom right now and because of the late hour they were just closing. I shot this one with dark shadows behind it. It was a lovely walk. This is my favorite time of the year.

Watching history be made

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Wow, Susie and I, are lifelong democrats. We are watching C-Span, watching the biggest social legislation since the New Deal be passed. Nancy Pelosi just spoke.

I shot this photo in 2008 of Nancy at the California Democratic convention.

[My related opinion is here | My photos from the 2008 California Democratic Convention are here.]

One of many many train items for sale.

Walking around Winterail 2010

My Israeli Couscous Recipes

Israeli Couscous

Use (Giant Pearl) Israeli Couscous (serves 3.5):

1. In a medium saucepan, saute´1.33 cups couscous with one tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat until couscous is lightly browned (about 5 minutes.)
2. Slowly add 1.75 cups of boiling water and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover.
4. Simmer for 12 minutes or until most of the water is absorbed.
   

Lazy Israeli Couscous

This is not nearly as good as the other way:

1. Boil 1.5 cups of water.
2. Stir in 1 cup of Israeli Couscous.
3. Cook 1 minute, remove from heat.
4. Let stand 5 minutes.
   

What is couscous?

More about Israeli Couscous (also known as Ptitim)
It is bigger than regular couscous, more like rice similar to orzo pasta. According to Wikipedia, nicknamed "Ben Gurion's Rice" in Israel it is one of the foods considered to be a unique Israeli culinary contribution. Israeli Couscous was invented during an austerity period in Israel, when rice was scarce. I have noticed Israeli Couscous now being packaged as "Mediterranean Couscous" in Whole Foods. It appears to be the same stuff. Since it was invented in Israel I gotta ask, what, they got something against Israelis?

Five years ago; my sister died

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Five years ago today someone who was always there for so many, my sister Lura, died. I have been thinking of her all day. I have so many memories it is hard to know where to start. Lura was a fountain of love and a rock of stability for so many people. She had a wonderful heart and she really enjoyed life. Cancer killed her, ending her life far, far too soon.

Her passing left a hole in so many lives that will never be filled.

I made this movie about her that was shown at her memorial. I hope you take a moment to look at it.

SJSU Education Cuts Protest

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Mitchell Colbert, an SJSU senior political science major and active member of Students for Quality Education, burns his transcripts on March 4, 2010 in symbolic protest against the state's budget cuts on education.

[More Photos]

I love the way...

I love the way on a rainy day, looking down is looking up.

Valentines Day Train Chase on Donner

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These photos provide an overview of the trip I made with Ken Compton and his son Zach to Donner Pass to photograph trains on Feb. 13-15, 2010. It was a great trip!

More Photos Are Here:

A dedicated Web Site for the trip

This is a Web site I created with lots of information including links to the photos.

Flickr Web Photos

This is an expanded Web set of photos.

Trip photos in Facebook

This is a collection of related photos in Facebook.