Winter Doldrums...

Yes, I know, slacker is my middle name... It seems that whenever I have time on the computer I end up playing poker (and not posting here!). I finished 4th in a 180 person tourney a couple nights ago, then promptly pissed away twice the prize money I won with an all in call of A/A. The lucky bastard I was up against went all in with 5/6 (idiot...) and hit both a 5 and a 6 on the flop, and another 6 on the river, winning with a full house, 6s over 5s. Unbelievable. I knew the guy was bluffing, as he'd done this several times (all in) and showed his cards (he was betting it all with hands like 2/10). He made the decision much too quickly, as well, so even without seeing his eyes, I knew I had him. A/A losing to 5/6. Unbelievable -- I hate making the right call and getting unlucky, but that's part of the game. Making the right call will still win most of the hands, but it hurts to lose a big one to an idiot.

My life has pretty much been reduced to:

Sleeping
Working
Hanging out with Cheyenne
Playing Games
Watching Syracuse B-ball and Sabres Hockey
Driving around and listening to books on CD

I measure time using milestones like breaks, when I can spend more time with Cheyenne and get more gaming in. Next milestone is the Niagara Boardgaming Weekend, which will start next Wednesday after school and run through Sunday. It will be a nice change in the daily drudge. Two weeks after this, we'll have February break. I only wish Cheyenne would listen to me better when off leash, as I'd love to take her cross-country skiing, but I can't right now (she'd get in trouble). She's such a cool dog, but her stubbornness limits her horizons.

As for gaming, I really should set up some games like Unhappy King Charles and run through the rules, but I have no energy to do that, so I pretty much stick to games I know (and will do so throughout Niagara. Hell, I'm even second-guessing running a Combat Commander tourney there, as it feels like too much work.



Gotta snap out of it...

Above is book I'm currently listening to on CD. Up next (it's probably been 30+ years since I read it) is:

Niagara is Approaching...

With less than 2 weeks to go until Niagara Boardgaming Weekend begins, I'm getting kind of antsy. It's a real fun mid-winter break, with 4 straight days of gaming. 9 more school days, then I'm there...

Getting geared up for Niagara, I played Hannibal with Mike Cardwell last night. Mike has really been enjoying the game, which is good, for I'm trying to wean him from hexes and games without cards! This was a great game (I was Carthage). Hannibal entered Italy on the 2nd turn, and took 2 northern Provinces. With the help of Diplomacy, and the Macedonian Alliance, I sailed Mago to Sardinia and secured that island. Rome was concentrating on building up its forces and suppressing the pro-Carthaginian tribe in southern Italy. By mid-game, Hannibal had built a decent force in northern Italy, and I went defensive -- thinking that if Rome came after Hannibal I'd send Mago to Sicily or send Hannibal south if mago was getting harassed. What I didn't count on was Rome playing a Major Campaign and sending three armies against Hannibal. Ouch! Once the dust settled, Hannibal was down to 1 CU, and nestled in Gallia Cisalpinia, his back against the Alps. Mike had a chance to finish Hannibal off (assuming I flubbed the avoid battle roll), but left him alone, instead choosing to bring spaces in northern Italy back under the Roman yoke. This gave Hannibal the "out" he needed, as he fled westward over the Alps. Over the next turn, Hannibal went back to New Carthage and emerged with another large army...

Hannibal Barca

While Hannibal was recruiting his new force (though no elephants), Rome was clearing out northern Italy of Carthaginian sympathizers. Hannibal then headed back and crossed the Alps with a full 10 CU force before Rome was ready to deal with him again. This time, he wasn't fooling around -- 2 battles in Gallia Cisalpinia completely routed 2 Roman armies (17 CUs lost!) and the northern Italians welcomed the Carthaginians back. Even Syracuse, in Sicily, decided to ally with the now strong (again) Hannibal. Game ended with Carthage winning the province count 11-6 (Celtiberia being neutral). It was a much closer game, falling apart for Rome only at the end (after those 17 CUs disappeared). I must say, I really love this game.

Ah, gaming...

Bob Titran is coming by tomorrow for some Combat Commander. Can't wait!

Long Weekend...

Thank God for long weekends -- I really needed those 3 days...

It was pretty much a weekend of sloth and guy stuff.

Saturday: Went to Syracuse to watch the Orange play the hated Notre Dame Fighting Irish. I was one of 30,021, the largest college hoops crowd of the year. Something truly electric about being in a group that large for basketball. Syracuse didn't disappoint, winning the game 93-74. They looked like a final four team that afternoon -- so many weapons (5 players in double figures). Go 'Cuse! Got home around 4:00, and then headed out to Millennium. Only played 2 games, both Race for the Galaxy. Won one, came in second in another. I hadn't played with the expansion yet, and the new twists made this great game even more fun. Should probably talk about what those are, but I'm short on time...

Sunday: Got a little grading done, then watched 2 real good football games. I'm still having trouble saying "Arizona Cardinals" and "Super Bowl" in the same breath. I know a lot of people think Pittsburgh is going to blow them out, but I think we may be in for a good game. In the evening, I spent some time winning some more money on PokerStars.Net. I think I'm addicted there...

Monday: Slept in, played with Cheyenne, did more grading, and played way too much poker. I ended up making 2 bad calls, so, at the end of the day, instead of being up another $100 or so, I was actually down $20. Oh well, I continue to learn, and that's the most important thing. In one of my big losses, I had pocket kings and was sure I was ahead, based on the flop. But the guy bet like he had pocket aces. He hadn't been playing a strong game, so I was guessing he was betting something like pocket tens. As I continued to lure more of his money into the pot, I really told myself I should get out, as he probably does have aces. But I talked myself out of it, saying I was due for a big win. Luckily, he checked on the turn (why, I know not), and I at least held up (so no more cash went in the pot). Of course, he had pocket aces. Groan... Oh yeah, Pitt plastered Syracuse last night, so the shine of Saturday's win is now dulled a bit...

Poker, Poker, Poker...

Had a big night tonight, winning a couple hundred dollars ($214.55). I'm too tired to continue thinking clearly, so I quit while I was ahead. Thank God the losing streak is over -- I need to pay for my wargames somehow!

The weather forecast has us very cold tomorrow, so if the wind kicks up, maybe school will be canceled. That would be cool, as I could use a 4-day weekend, after working for almost 2 straight weeks!

And yes, I'm babbling, but I just wanted to post tonight to get that losing monkey off my back (though he was already leaving the other day), and to praise Wegmans before I went to bed.

Good night, all!

Inside a Wegmans Store

Colder Than A Witch's Teat...

Man, ain't that the truth! When we get to -7F, that's too cold. Winter should be in the 20s, with a few dips into the teens. Frankly, I'm amazed that wildlife makes it through cold spells like this -- I always feel sorry for the little buggers... Anyway, enough complaining, as I don't have to be outside. Yay!

A pretty boring week so far, and no gaming (other than Poker online), though the Millennium meet is this Saturday, and I'm set to play the new Axis & Allies with Frank Mestrve (sp?). Now, I'm not really a fan of this game, but I was a sucker for the big box, pretty pieces, and the sale at Boulder Games. So I went for it, and need to give it at least one shot... Even if not historical (it isn't), it should be fun -- until Frank starts whining. I'll be refreshing myself with the rules this week...

On the Poker front, I was able to win back > $70 I had lost over the past weeks, so I'm feeling better about that. I need to head out to the casino soon, to play with "live" people, as it's actually easier to do this, as so many folks give away things due to body language (something you can't see online). Maybe I'll do this next month during Niagara Boardgaming Weekend.

Tonight will see Syracuse playing Georgetown in a classic Big East basketball game. When I lived in Virginia, I used to go to the Georgetown home game vs. Syracuse each year. I'm lucky I'm still alive, as those were some tough, inner city crowds. D'oh! This will be a huge test for Syracuse, and I hope they can pass with flying colors.



Finally, the end of the quarter at school is approaching, so I've gotta get all my backlogged grading and recording done. Teaching would be sooooo much more fun without all the administrative bullshit we have to deal with (and grading is the least of my worries here...).

Speaking of Pesto...

...Here's the simple recipe I've been using for quite a while -- though, as with all non-baking recipes, adjustments for taste are more important than exact measurements! While pine nuts are "traditional" in pesto, I learned from a chef friend (executive chef at I Matti in Adams Morgan for a time) in DC that pistachio-based pesto is my favorite. So rich and decadent...

Pesto is so good with so many different dishes -- pastas, breads, vegetables (especially beans and asparagus), fish (especially salmon, swordfish, and tuna), chicken, pork -- it's always nice to have some around the house.


You will need:

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano
  
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup pistachios
  
• 3-4 large sized garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste (salty pistachios and Parmesan may negate the need for extra salt)
  

Directions:

1. Combine the basil in with the pistachios, pulse a few times in a food processor. Add the garlic, pulse a few times more.

2. Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Taste, then add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, as necessary.

This can also be done in a blender, though I always use my food processor.

I'll have to post my White Clam Sauce recipe one of these days...

Food Tastings...

I was thinking about my favorite foods today, since I haven't been eating them lately (LOL!). I thought it might be interesting to list my "best of the best," and see who agrees, and who doesn't -- providing their own substitutes. A nice little break, eh?

The following list is not in order of favorites, but just what I'm thinking of in the moment I type...

1. Italian. I grew up in an Italian household (Fumia, on my mother's side), so I ate Italian most days growing up. I think that, due to this, my taste for tomato-based sauces has diminished, and I rarely have a dish like lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs anymore. But the best Italian cooking isn't tomato-based, imo, and I love seafood. So, we'll go with Linguine and White Clam Sauce for this entry! And yes, I make a mean dish of this...



2. Thai. I never had Thai food growing up -- had to wait until I moved to the DC area in the late 80s. But man, did I ever fall in love with it! Luckily, Rochester now has at least 4 Thai restaurants that can compete with any Thai food I've ever had. And no, though I've tried, my cooking efforts aren't nearly as good as these restaurants. The winning dish is Gaeng Daeng (Thai Red Curry with coconut milk -- any meat will do!)



3. Indian. Yes, another one of my favorites. Such diverse dishes to choose from, and all that delicious basmati rice and naan. Hmm... I need to decide among 5 choices currently swimming through my head. OK, I've decided, it has to be Lamb Biryani -- extra spicy.



4. Cajun. American food is so diverse and often excellent, though too many people only think "hot dog and hamburger," which is a shame. All regions of the country have excellent cuisine, and as I'm in a spicy mood, I'm visiting the old Acadians down in New Orleans. I could go for a good dish of Crawfish Etouffee right now!



5. Spanish. OK, I'm having this rice craving, so I've just gotta go with one of my all time favorite dishes. I've made this myself a few times, with varying degrees of success. It's always good, often it's great. Paella.



6. French. I admit it, I find French food mostly boring, unimaginative, and not for me. Very over-hyped and not all that good, imo. But there is one dish that I love, and I even make it myself occasionally. Who'd have thunk it, me, using saffron. Yes, it's gotta be delicious Bouillabaisse!



7. Caribbean. I love Caribbean cuisine. I worked on St. Croix in one of my other lives, and I often ate at a nice old lady's "hospitality house," having the dish of the day (and being the only cracker in the place!). I fell in love with Curried Goat, Rice and Peas, and Plantains. Man, I gotta get back there, soon!



8. Japanese. My first forays in Japanese cuisine were also in DC. The first time I had sushi, I had it alone and popped the entire wad of wasabi into my mouth (what did I know?!?!). My sinuses were running for the next week. But I developed a true love of sushi, and my favorite piece is Sake, or Salmon.



I could probably keep this up for quite some time, traveling around the country and the world! But I'll end at 8 today, perhaps picking it up some other day. As you probably noticed, I tend toward seafood and/or spicy, in a general sense. I've become a bit of a snob, food-wise, over the years, but that's been a good thing (I think), as it's pushed my cooking abilities along nicely. In Rochester, we have a surprising amount of excellent restaurants for a city this size, and I've definitely been eating my way through some of my favorites!

Let's hear your favorite dishes, or you can pan or praise mine!

Mangia, mangia!

NCAA Football...

After watching too much college football over the past few weeks, I've come to several conclusions:

1. The Big Ten is a really sucky conference. Teams are slow and dumb, and if it weren't for the sheer weight of the student bodies/alumni of these 2nd rate universities, they wouldn't even be invited to bowl games (except maybe as cannon fodder, which is all they're good for). Hell, it's even boring watching these plodding teams lose...

2. The BCS sucks as much as as the Big Ten (and these 2 suck together and help prop each other up). A team like Utah might, just might, be the best team in the country, yet they get screwed. All other NCAA games have playoffs, but we're told this is impossible in Division 1A (or whatever they call it nowadays) football. What a feckin' crock...

3. There are several elite college football teams (USC, Utah, Florida), while parity is pretty much spreading across the rest of the teams. When Ole Miss can clobber Texas Tech and Oregon State and Pittsburgh can play a 3-0 game, then you know parity has arrived. Which cries out even more for a playoff...

Go Utes!

4. Have I mentioned how boring and sucky Big Ten teams are? If not, let me state that they are...

5. I've always been a "lukewarm" college football fan, and the bullshit of this season is reinforcing that. I much prefer college hoops, and this season is starting off great. In the current AP poll, 9 of the Top 25 teams are from the Big East. Holy Crap! Syracuse is gonna have to work hard every night (which is a good thing)...

6. Turner Gill has really made the UB football team a fun bunch. He's obviously moving on (probably after next season), but the hope is UB can keep it up -- it would be nice. Hopes are also up at Syracuse, with Doug Marronne as the new coach. We shall see...

7. The Big Ten sucks, dontcha know? I can't stand the hypocrite Joe Paterno, it was great to his his hapless bunch crushed like a cockroach by USC. I admit, that was fun, almost as much fun as watching Slowhio State lose "at the buzzer," making their whiny fans even sadder. LOL!...

Oh well, I can't say I really care whether Florida or Oklahoma wins on Thursday night. National Champions, right...

Back to the grindstone...

Break is over, woe is me!

I did have a pretty relaxing time. Played games both at home (Santa Fe Rails), at Grant Ladue's (Santa Fe Rails, Dominion, Ivanhoe, Galaxy), at Mike Cardwell's (Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage), as well as continuing my Texas Hold 'Em losing streak... At least I won about $20 last night, so maybe the end of my misery is in sight...

There are a lot of games I need to get on the table to be ready for the Niagara Boardgaming Weekend (NBW). Looking forward to getting away for 4 1/2 days of gaming, and it's only a month away! Last year, I played about 30 games at NBW, and I hope to surpass that total this year. I have procrastinated about getting a new passport (mine has expired), but I won't really need one until the summer, as a license and birth certificate will continue to do.

I'm not one for resolutions, but I really need to get back into a semblance of shape. Hopefully, now that the gluttony and lethargy of the holiday season is over, I can get started down a healthier path. I have some good motivation here, and that's key.

So, here's to a great 2009 -- the hope is for gaming, gaming, and more gaming, playing with and training Cheyenne, enjoying the great outdoors, and getting into shape. Wish me luck!

Vacation...

I know I've been lax with posting here over my Christmas Break, but I've gotta admit, I really enjoyed being away from the computer. I just don't understand the attraction of being so "connected" in today's world. I like my peace and quiet, and I often turn off my cell phone, and shut down my computer, and just hang out with myself, and my dog.

So many people miss the peace that only the outdoors, the getting away can give. I have been missing that, and this break I have been catching up.

Cheyenne and I both win.